AP-Las Vegas

After an amazing run to make the playoffs and a tremendous run to reach the Semifinals the Cheap Thieves were eliminated last night from the Alternative Hockey League Playoffs. Some teams were calling the Thieves the team of destiny, however they just fell short in their quest to reach the finals and play for their third championship. The Eddie Shack Conference will be represented by the Red Ravens. Red Ravens Owner and GM Bryan Culnersofsky had this to say after his triump win last night." I just want to congratulate the Thieves in getting this far. They really played their hearts out and were a tough opponent." Culnersofsky and his assistant GM Wendy Chanleung were spotted at a bar celebrating their victory. Reports are Culnersofsky was already busy scouting his opponent and preparing his lineups.

On a related story there have been reports of GM and Owner Daniel Negreanu's wild behaviour at the 4 Queens Hotel and Casino last night. Shortly after being eliminated Negreanu reportedly took out a $500000 marker and headed straight to the craps table. Barbie Fundtime a cocktail waitress at the 4 Queens had this to say"Negreanu kept ordering Coronas in bunches and kept muttering the words michalek, michalek..I did not know what he meant." Negreanu reportedly lost roughly $600000 playing craps in a span of 4 hours. Negreanu's night came to a sober end as he was spotted at a private club later that evening. Reports say that he was going over OHL tapes to spot the next 15 year old superstar to draft to his team.

lol nice

I was actually fine with the loss. Especially when I came into the season with mediocre hopes for 06-07. My main objective was to build a strong young team that will dominate the AHL East for the next 5-7 years. If you look at the team I've put together in comparison with the other teams in my difference, it's no contest at all:

Goaltending:

There is absolutely no debate as to who has the best set of goalies that can be kept long term since they were signed to cheap contracts at the free agent draft. I was able to get the #3, #5, and #9 overall goalies in the NHL for much less than what most teams paid for their goalies:


1.San Jose Sharks will be signed for three years at $4.00 $4.50 $5.00
2.Vancouver Canucks will be signed for five years at $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.00
3.New York Rangers will be signed for five years at $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50

Luongo is quickly establishing himself as the man who will take over the #1 workhorse position from Martin Brodeur. Henrik Lundqvist has bounced back from a sophomore slump and is once again maybe the best goalie in the league in his early 20's. Top that off with a dynamic shutout duo of Vesa Toskala/Evgeni Nabakov and you can see that my goaltending situation is secure for many years to come.

Defense:

This is the soft spot on the team, but compared to the rest of the division it looks like a group of superstars!

1.Brent Seabrook, Chi. will be signed for one year at $1.50
2.Tom Poti, NYI. will be signed for five years at $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 $1.50 $1.50
3.Marc-Edouard Vlasic, SJ. will be signed for one year at $1.00
4.Greg de Vries, ATL. will be signed for one year at $0.50

The team will look to sign a high priced free agent at the draft, possibly resigning Schneider or Hamrlik. Adding to that, you have Seabrook and Vlasic one year older, plus, it's extremely likely that Kris Russell will be playing in Columbus next year and get the call up. His salary is just $0.25. This defense as a whole is still a couple years away from being where it needs to be, but there are loads of prospects on the farm that are just a year or two away.

Forwards:

No one in my division is as deep, young, and cheap as this group of forwards. They were already the best group of forwards in the division this season, and since the core of the contributing players are all so young, they will only get better this season with more help from the farm on the way soon.

1.Simon Gagne, PHI. will be signed for 5 years at $4.25 $4.75 $5.25 $6.00 $7.25
2.Henrik Sedin, VAN is alredy signed for 4 years at $3.75 $4.25 $4.75 $5.25
3.Alexei Kovalev, MON is in the last year of his contract at $2.75 (likely won't be resigned due to Andre Kostitsyn's emergence)
4.Raffi Torres, EDM. will be signed for 1 year at $2.00 (a very dissapointing season for Torres)
5.Alexander Semin, WAS. will be signed for 5 years at $3.00 $3.50 $4.00 $4.50 $5.000
6.Anze Kopitar, LA. will be signed for 5 years at $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50 $2.50
7.Olli Jokinen, FLA is already signed for 2 years at $1.75 $2.00
8.Corey Perry, ANA. will be signed for 5 years at $1.25 $1.25 $1.25 $1.25 $1.25
9.Petr Kalus, BOS. will be signed for 1 year at $0.75 (a 4th round pick, has yet to make the big club)
10.Ryan Malone, PIT. is already signed for 3 years at $0.50 $0.50 $0.50
11.Jason Pominville, BUF. will be signed for 5 years at $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 $2.25 $2.50
12.Eric Belanger, ATL. is already signed for 4 years at $0.50 $0.50 $0.50 $0.50
13.Lee Stempniak, STL. will be signed for 5 years at $0.50 $0.50 $0.50 $0.50 $0.50
14.Jason Chimera, CLB. will be signed for 1 year at $0.50
15.Jussi Jokinen, DAL. will be signed for five years at $0.50 $0.50 $0.50 $0.50 $0.50

A couple of key signings from a salary perspective include Jussi Jokinen and Lee Stempniak at the league minimum. Plus,Anze Kopitar, Corey Perry, and Jason Pominville were signed to cheap long term contracts which will allow the team to keep players like Gagne and Sedin for the duration of their careers.
This group will only get better and better with the likes of Andre Kostitsyn, Bobby Ryan, Jack Skille, Kyle Okposo, and others very close to seeing time in the NHL. It's possible that with the immense depth at forward, that I may be willing to trade for some help on the blueline.


That sets me up like this for 2007-08 where I have a cap of $57.00

Goaltending: $9.50
Defense: $4.50
Forwards: $26.00

That will leave me needing to fill four roster spots, more than likely all defensemen, and $17.00 to spend at the free agent draft. I also have all of my draft picks in the upcoming draft so that I can further stock my farm with defenseman prospects.
With $17.00 I should be able to nab one high end defensemen and three adequate fillers.

I really think prices are going to get driven up compared to last year, look at all the money that was left on the table, and the prices at the end for garbage like Roenick... $17.00 might not get too much.

That's an impressive looking line-up and prospects (other than defense).
You are right, sign/trade for some defense and you are looking pretty solid for years to come.

Any chance you can give John Ferguson Jr. some tips on building a winner?

I think the order that the players are thrown out will have a lot to do with things.

yes and this year I will be sitting next to Dale...There is a very good reason for this...

I miss Barbie and all the other Fundtime waitresses.

I put that in for the few of us who would get a kick out of it..

I don't think it'll get much either, but I'm willing to spend up to $16.25 at the draft on one player. Than after the draft, I plan on trying to swing a deal or two to bring over one or two more high end, high priced defensemen. I'm stocked on the farm already so I'll likely move some draft picks for defense. I'll end up with 4 good d men one way or another...