Figured that since the season started, I might as well start a thread.

Here's the current roster:





The farm is negligible and I don't even have a draft pick until 2011. Players in red are on the reserve list.

We're in the Big M's division, and although beating them is surely impossible, we'll be trying to hold off the Ingmen and Greaseballs for 2nd in the division.

For comparison purposes, this is the team I inherited in the summer, before re-signing players, and making a handful of trades.:

Oct 3, 2009 - W 6.5-1.5 over the Swackers

We started off our AHL dynasty on the right foot with a big win. On a 15-game night we were able to ice our best lineup, which consisted of forwards Ilya Kovalcuk, Brad Richards, Andy McDonald, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ales Hemsky and Milan Hejduk, as well as defensemen Duncan Keith, Jaroslav Spacek, Fedor Tyutin and Keith Yandle. Only Hemsky and Yandle were held off the board, while Kovalchuk led the way with 2 goals and an assist. The Stars goalies started for us, and it was the best decision, allowing only 3 goals (one being the extra shootout 'goal'), while Ottawa allowed 5, and the Isles allowed 4.

Our next game is on the 6th, where we face off against the division rival Big M's. Unfortunately, on the 6-game night, we're icing a short lineup, with only 5 forwards and 3 defenseman, but the choice of either Dallas or Ottawa goaltenders. To make matters worse, the Capitals play, which means Mike Green and Alex Ovechkin will be starting for the Big M's. Going to be a very tough one to win.

Oct 6, 2009 - L 5.5-(-0.5) to the Big M's

Let's just put it this way... I had an open spot at forward and another on defense, and Bob had Gomez and Beachemin on the bench.

============================

Lineup help needed for Oct 8th game:

My top 5 forwards:

Kovalchuk
Hemsky
Hejduk
McDonald
Langenbrunner

I need to fit a 6th in there.

The guys in the running are:

Petr Sykora @ LAK - playing on the 2nd or 3rd line in Minny, depending on how you want to rank them, with Nolan and either Bouchard or Belanger, depending on whether Bouchard is healthy or not. Get's PP time, and is a master on the PP.

David Moss @ EDM - Skating with Iginla and Jokinen, and gets PP time.

Drew Stafford vs PHO - Was supposed to be in the top 6 on a line with Vanek, but it looks like he spent some time on the 3rd or 4th line in the first game. Should be his breakout year, but things have started slowly.

Any thoughts?

Also, my goalie options are the Islanders who play in Ottawa, or Ottawa who host the Isles. It's Ottawa's home opener. Who would you go with there?

Ottawa, definitely.

I also go with Moss over Sykora, but its close.

I'd go with Moss and OTT goalies.

.

Apparently once he was traded from the Mustangs his play improved dramatically.

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haha

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sorry

Interesting.

The decision didn't end up mattering as Moss, Sykora, and Stafford were all shutout. The goalie decision turned out correct as the Sens won.

I'm out of town and kinda boycotting the computer (but not the iPhone). I think I lost by 1 goal though.

According to Roto, he has an upper body injury, not a healthy scratch.

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Back up to 3-3 after a big win last night.

With only two forwards playing (Hejduk and McDonald), we managed to beat the division rival Ingmen 1.5 to -1.0. Goals by Hejduk and Duncan Keith sealed the victory, while goaltending played a major role. Ottawa continued to be solid allowing only 1 goal, meanwhile Wayne had no goalies counting for 5 against.

3 straight wins, including a dominating win over the previously undefeated Shoot Loose. 2 goals and an assist from Andy McDonald led the way to a 6.5 to -1.5 victory. Ilya Kovalchuk started the scoring early with 2 goals within the first 30 mins of the game, while Drew Stafford and Jamie Langenbrunner also chipped in with a goal apiece. Jaroslav Spacek added an assist. The team was sharp in all facets, as our Ottawa goalies allowed only 1 goal. Shoot Loose's pathetic showing amounted to a single Evgeni Malkin assist, while the Red Wings were dinged for 4 goals against.

The Shortstackers continue to rise in the AHL's North division after a slow start. The win moves them to 5-3 on the season. Next game comes Wednesday against the feeble T-Birds.

Your name fits your team. You will come up short against the Ingmen this year.

Unlikely.

3rd in the league in +/- right now. I'm 5-3 and I'm underperforming.

My forwards came to play tonight:

Kovalchuk GG
Richards AA
Hemskey GAAAA
Langenbrunner A
Regin A
Chimera G

My goalies did not come to play. Ottawa had 6 against, while the Isles and Stars, who were benched, both let in 5.

Didn't matter though, I won 6.0 to 3.5 with the help of the late games, very much. Ty Mr. Hemsky.

We improve to 6-3-1 over the first 10 games. The SO loss is the biggest disappointment ever, as I had a brain cramp and put Spacek in instead of Keith on Wednesday, while Spacek wasn't even playing. Keith of course notches a goal and an assist which would have given me the regulation win.

4-0-1 in our last 5, though, and 5-1-1 in the last 7.

Need some help for Saturday's game. It's against the very good and very deep Eagles, and we need the win. To put it this way, he actually has the option of leaving a struggling Datsyuk or Getzlaf on the bench...

So, anyways... my top 5 forwards should be locks:

Ilya Kovalchuk
Brad Richards
Ales Hemsky
Andy McDonald
Milan Hejduk

I need to choose a 6th from the following:

Jamie Langenbrunner @ Pittsburgh - Played last game with Parise and Zubrus, but was usually on the Parise/Zajac line before that. Has 2g, 3a in 8 gp. Pittsburgh is playing their 2nd of back to backs, but Johnson will get the start on Friday, while Fleury plays against New Jersey.
Drew Stafford @ Tampa Bay - Playing on a line with Vanek and Roy. Has 2g, 2a in 7 games, but started slowly, seems to be coming around, and Buffalo is scoring a lot of goals lately.
Cory Stillman @ Philly - Florida just isn't scoring goals. Has 1 assist in 7 games. Panthers will be playing their 2nd game in as many nights.
Peter Regin vs Boston - Mostly playing with Foligno and Neil, but has a surprising 2g, 2a in 5 games played. I will be at this game, if it factors into anyone's decision, heh.
Arron Asham vs Florida - Just picked him up, as he's playing with Richards and Gagne at the moment, has goals in 2 straight, but can't be counted on for production.
Jason Chimera @ Anaheim - Scored a beauty last night, has 3 goals in 8 games. Plays on the 3rd line with Pahlsson and Dorsett.
David Moss vs Edmonton - Would get a lot more consideration, but is injured and a toss up to play.
Petr Sykora vs Carolina - Also injured, not sure if he's playing.
Matt Cooke vs New Jersey - Plays on the best 3rd line in hockey with Kennedy and Staal, has 2g, 3a in 9 gp.

Also, on defense, I need to pick 2 of the following:

Fedor Tyutin @ Anaheim
Keith Yandle vs Los Angeles
Jaroslav Spacek vs NY Rangers

Leading towards Spacek and Yandle, but Tyutin gets the highest % of his team's PP time of the 3, only 2 seconds behind Spacek in total PP time per game. Kent Huskins is also in the mix, as he has a higher pool ppg than either of the 3, and is playing @ Atlanta, but I doubt I can put him over any of these 3. Ironically, Keith and Girardi get the least amount of PP time of these 5 (not including Huskins), but have the most points by far.

And, finally, goaltending:

Ottawa vs Boston
Islanders vs Washington
Dallas @ St. Louis

Leaning towards Ottawa, even coming off the 6-goals they allowed tonight. I'll be at the game, so it'll give me good reason to cheer for the Sens. I'm also probably not facing any Bruins, which helps. I wouldn't be facing any Blues, either, but with McDonald in my lineup, I'd rather have his points count fully.

Thanks for the thoughts.

You're welcome!

The Shortstackers suck..

They really do.

bad break for the Shortstackers...

Kovalchuk out 2-4 weeks

I think it's a good break, now he can sign him long term for another 5 yrs.

No.

lol

could it be that I am almost a favourite against you in our first ever AHL matchup?
I have a rather A-ish (for the Whalers) lineup for a 6game night. Just my D is missing is some big guns. GL, try to win!

SHORTSTACKERS:
1. Brad Richards (DAL) OT
2. Milan Hejduk (COL)
3. David Moss (CGY)
4. Drew Stafford (BUF)
5. Jamie Langenbrunner (NJD)
6. Cory Stillman (FLA)

7. Fedor Tyutin (CLB)
8. Keith Yandle (PHO)
9. Kent Huskins (SJS)
10. Bryce Salvador (NJD)

Dallas Goalies

vs.

WHALERS:
F1 TRAVIS ZAJAC NJ OT
F2 BRENDEN MORROW DAL
F3 TUOMO RUUTU CAR
F4 ROSTISLAV OLESZ VAN
F5 JOSH BAILEY FLA
F6 BLAKE COMEAU NYI

D1 FREDDY MEYER NYI
D2 BRETT CLARK COL
D3 ANDY GREENE NJ
D4

GTD COLORADO

Well, top of my head, I don't think you're the favorite, but let's back this up with EV:

This obviously doesn't tell the whole story, as the sample size is small, but some guys are overachieving, while others are struggling, so it balances out somewhat:

Player - Pool Points Per Game
===================
Richards - 0.917
Hejduk - 0.533
Moss - 0.500
Stafford - 0.455
Langenbrunner - 0.417
Stillman - 0.255

Tyutin - 0.269
Yandle - 0.231
Huskins - 0.200
Salvador - 0.125

Dallas Goalies - (-1.607)

====================

Zajac - 0.625
Morrow - 0.679
Ruutu - 0.400
Olesz - 0.375
Bailey - 0.231
Comeau - 0.167

Meyer - 0.188
Clark - 0.250
Greene - 0.222

Colorado Goalies - (-1.133)

====================

TOTALS
Shorstackers - 2.295
Whalers - 1.996

I'm the favorite.

I've been running like shit lately, though, so a loss would certainly not be surprising. Good luck.

Btw RPR, Bailey is on NYI, not FLA. I suggest you change that in your lineup post, or Dale will miss him when he tallies up the scores.

thanks. bad job of cutting and pasting on excel on my part. I had Olesz as wrong team too, must have mixed them up or something.


2.295 vs 1.996 is as close as I'm ever gonna get in the pregame playing against a good team as yours.
Like I said, just make sure you beat me!

I swapped goalies. I have the Islanders going tonight, instead of the Stars.

^^ winner... 4.5 - 1.0. Hejduk led the way with 2g, 1a.

My goalie decision ended up not mattering, as the both let in 3 goals.

GG Z, thats an impressive score for a 6game night.

tyty, got a lot of offensive production, finally. We're coming off of two straight -1.0 scores, so we were "due", I guess. Fricken put up one single assist on Saturday. Had at least one assist from 5 of 6 forwards tonight.

3rd win in a row tonight, as we beat the Gothic 1.5 to -0.5.

Tomorrow's game is a huge matchup against the division rival Greaseballs.

Unfortunately a lot of our top skaters either have the night off or are injured, so it'll be a tough go tomorrow. Hejduk and Hemsky have the night off, while Kovalchuk is still injured, and McDonald will be a game time decision.

You may have to change your name to Ottawa Chip Leaders

This may be a blessing in disuise that Hejduk and Hemsky don't play tonight as now you can sign them to long term deals at a cheaper price.

I'm glad you understand how this pool works.

5 straight wins!

6 goals so far from Florida??????????????

I am doomed.

Looks like Minnesota saved you.

2-2!

You run so good at how awful my lineups are. This is my worst 7-game stretch of the season, by far, lineup-wise.

I don't think it gets any better, hypothetically, in rounds 2, 3 or 4, though either, so I don't really think I care.

I'm so pissed I traded you Evgeny Artyukhin for nothing. The guy is going to be a stud and he is on your farm.

Donuts from my guys this afternoon. I really don't like my chances with your Devil guys against Edmonton.

Daniel had an assist.

To me that is a donut since he is my 1st OT. The ugly night continues, zeros in the 1st from the Sabres/Rangers game. I am really dreading the Devils game coming up.

Good series, Wayne.

I hate excuses, but I can't believe how awful my lineups are in these playoffs. I knew I didn't have Big M depth, but I thought my team was pretty deep. Stafford was supposed to be the bottom of my top end guys, and has just had a very mediocre season, and now he's injured for a while. Moss was supposed to be my better lower-end depth guy, and he's been absolutely pitiful. Guys like Cooke, Asham, Begin have had hot streaks, but they were just FA pickups with very low expectations, and they can't be counted on. When I have to start Asham in several playoff games, you know there's a problem.

Hemsky would have been really nice to have, too. Hejduk missing a game or two already in the playoffs as well, sigh.

Even my defense, which I thought was adequately deep has been getting exposed for it's lack of depth. My top 5 would be Keith, Yandle, Tyutin, Spacek, Girardi, which I would be comfortable with any 4, at least earlier in the season. Spacek fell off the face of the earth, from last year's totals. Girardi started off on fire and completely disappeared. Those two are basically my 2nd tier of d-men now, and random pick up Huskins has about the same pool PPG as them. Keith was a nice surprised, as he's one of the top 3 d-men in the pool, and Yandle is progressing very nicely. Tyutin as well. After those 5, it's an absolute disaster though, and I've had to use more of my bottom end d-men in this series than at any stretch in the regular season.

Not to mention 2 goalie-less nights in the first 5 games, where I think I had 3 all regular season. And that's before even accounting for goaltending already being my weakest position.

Sigh. Don't think I can win 2 more, with the lineups I'm icing. Considering Arron Asham and David Moss would see the lineup 4 of 7 games, if it went the distance, bleh.

This thing is not over yet. Stranger things have happen.

And it's official.