NYI - Vying for greatness (NHL 11 BAGM)

[Dynasty]

Hello everyone. I am going to run a New York Islanders dynasty.


I will be running custom sliders. All star difficulty 10 minute periods salary cap on authentic draft. I will be playing all games, hopefully doing a weekly update.


I hope people are interested in this, thanks for reading.

[Dynasty]

May 31 2010

Islanders GM Garth Snow held a press conference this morning detailing plans for this coming season, during his time at the podium Snow talked about his tenure as an Islander, the rich history of the club and their recent struggles as an organisation. Snow went on to say that with great sadness he would be stepping down as GM of the franchise for personal reasons, stating that there were things that needed to be put back in line in his own life before he could focus on the daunting task of running an NHL team


After his speech Snow refused further comment and Charles Wang took the podium.


"Firstly I would like to thank Garth for everything he has done for this club, his vision and planning has been astute and well implemented, despite our past failures we believe this club has turned the corner and is moving onto greater things, and we as fans owe that to Mr. Snow"


"I would also like to say that this move has not been sudden or unexpected, Garth made us aware of his situation early last year and that it may mean he would step down as GM, so in accordance with that we have been grooming our next GM under Garth since September of the 09/10 season. So from this day on the New York Islanders will be headed by Steve Pattenden, he has been in our organisation for many years, serving in many hockey operation roles, he will continue to lead where Garth has forged a path, unfortunately due to the timing of this press release and the upcoming season Mr. Pattenden could not join us today, he will be giving his own conference later next week"


Shocking news indeed from Islanders camp! I think I just heard a collective groan from the Islanders faithful and whispers of "stinks like Milbury" We will keep you updated with any breaking news.

[Dynasty]

June 11 2010

"Good morning everyone, thank you for coming, I apologise for not being able to speak up to this point, as you can imagine it has been a very busy time. I will be keeping questions to a minimum as we are deep into a review process for the upcoming draft"


"I would like to thank the Islanders management group for this opportunity, and Mr. Snow not only for the excellent job he has done, but for giving me the guidance and the chance to continue on in his place"


"As Mr. Wang mentioned last week I have been in the organisation for many years now, and I know the club from top to bottom, majors to minors. I understand where we are and where we as a business and as a franchise need to be. I am excited for this time in Islanders history, and I believe our fan base will reflect that."


"I would also like to say that we have a very in-depth plan of attack for this upcoming draft, we know who we want and who we don’t, we have a very select list of players we will be exploring both coming into our great franchise and leaving. This is a year of change, a year of growth and ambition, a year of hushed optimism, we will be better, we will be stronger, we. Will. Compete."


Well folks I guess by saying we will be accepting minimal questions Mr Pattenden really meant, no questions please! After his conference in which some bold statements were said, Mr. Pattenden quickly filed out of the building, heading to Islanders hockey operations.


We can only guess what is in store for the Islanders, at least there apparently is a "plan" I know our fans sure hope so! We can only wait and see, with draft day only twelve days away, the wait won’t be too long at least.

[Dynasty]

Well, I had a nice long "live" draft day recap post but the internets ate it

My next update will be pre season opening, including all the moves up to that day.

[HeroWorship]

Well, this appears to have potential. Using a franchise which has struggled much in the last twenty years combined with the young talent surrounding the team in Tavares, Okposo, and crew.

If you stick to this, I'll be following.

[Dynasty]

Quote: Originally Posted by HeroWorship

Well, this appears to have potential. Using a franchise which has struggled much in the last twenty years combined with the young talent surrounding the team in Tavares, Okposo, and crew. If you stick to this, I'll be following.

Thanks Hero, I hope people will read and comment throughout the life of this. Beyond Tavares and de Haan everyone can go for the right price, as you will see in up coming posts, I have refaced nearly every aspect of the franchise through drafting free agents and trades. It should be up soon.

[Dynasty]

Welcome back everyone to our coverage of the New York Islanders. Last we heard from newly appointed GM Steve Pattenden the management team had a plan heading into this years draft, and it was clearly defined as the draft played out.

While it is hard to find the correct term to use for the multitude of moves Pattenden has completed in various forms, the thought process was clear. Change, clear and simple. Pattenden has agreed to a brief interview which will begin soon with yours truly, but first I will post the draft to pre season opener moves just to refresh everyones memory.

Draft day moves:

Before any drafting could be done a trade was announced between the Islanders and Thrashers which involved:

D Jack Hillen (TWD)
TO ATL FOR
D Boris Valabik (DFD)
Player stats:
Hillen - 76 OVR 2 years @ 1.405M per season C/B-/C POT 24 years old
Valabik - 80 OVR 2 years @ 1.255M per season C/B-/C POT 24 years old
Analyst comments:
This was abit of a head scratcher for me to see. I suppose atlanta wanted a bit more offense but gave up a better player, who is also cheaper to get it? I declare Islanders win this trade.

The Islanders went on to trade their 2010 7th and 5th picks to Anaheim for their 2010 2nd

and pulled a similar trade with Edmonton shipping their 2010 7th (NYR) 2010 6th for Edmonton's 2010 2nd

Turning right to Boston and trading their 2010 6th and 2010 4th picks for Bostons 2010 2nd round pick, leaving them with 5 second round picks!

Analyst comments:
Exciting stuff right? having five second round picks doesn't do much for this season, but lets just say the farm team should be stocked with good talent for the next few years! Bringing in Valabik doesn't put pucks in the net, but it sure keeps people out of your zone, standing at 6"7" and weighing 246 LBS Valabik gets noticed when he is on the ice.

Post draft moves:

Pattenden went on to clean the cupboards after the draft, releasing a total of 15 players and buying out one rookie contract to make space, The Islanders boss went on record saying:

"Yep, I did. It is time we take a few long strides ahead in this teams development and not as many baby steps, it was bold, but wait and see what is coming down the pipe"

Okay wait. 15 players and thats just the start? I don't know about you but I just sucked my breath in. Lets take a look at the laundry list of players the Islanders did not resign, some of which were a bit surprising.

Released players:

C Doug Weight (PLY) 80 OVR 39 years old D/D/D POT
C David Ullstrom (PLY) 70 OVR 21 years old B-/C/C POT
C Bobby Hughes (PLY) 72 OVR 22 years old C/C/C POT

LW Jon Sim (GRN) 78 OVR 32 years old C/C/C POT
LW Matt Moulson (SNP) 81 OVR 26 years old C/C/C POT
LW Sean Bergenheim (TWF) 79 OVR 26 years old C/C/C POT
LW Sean Bentivoglio (TWF) 70 OVR 24 years old C/C/C POT

RW Richard Park (TWF) 78 OVR 34 years old C-/C-/C- POT

D Brett Westgarth (DFD) 73 OVR 28 years old C/C/C POT
D Jared Spurgeon (OFD) 67 OVR 23 years old B-/B-/C POT
D Dylan Reese (TWD) 69 OVR 25 years old C/C/C POT
D Freddy Meyer (TWD) 76 OVR 29 years old C/C/C POT
D Dustin Kohn (TWD) 73 OVR 23 years old B-/B-/C POT
D Mark Flood (TWD) 70 OVR 25 years old C/C/C POT

G Scott Munroe (BUT) 74 OVR 28 years old C/C/C POT

Analyst comments:
Whoa! now don't get me wrong here Dougy was an older guy but this one shocked me. even as a third line guy thats a lot of skill and leadership just to toss out the window (sorry Doug)

A lot of young talent went with him it seems, hopefully they gave these guys a bus ride home! (since there was enough to fill a bus...) a couple names like Dustin Kohn, Jared Spurgeon, David Ullstrom raise an eyebrow or two, but we will defiantly ask what Pattenden was thinking later!

Draftee signings:

G Anders Nilsson 3 years @ 685K (RD round 62nd overall)
67 OVR (BUT) B-/B-/B- POT 20 years old

LW Kirill Kabanov 3 years @ 820K (3rd round 65th overall)
72 OVR (SNP) B/B/B POT 17 years old

LW Nino Niederreiter 3 years @ 790K (1st round 5th overall)
71 OVR (SNP) A-/B-/B- POT 17 years old

D Travis Hamonic 3 years @ 740K (2nd round 53rd overall)
69 OVR (TWD) C/A-/B- POT 19 years old

RW Zack kassian 3 years @ 740K (3rd round 75th overall)
69 OVR (PWF) B-/B-/B- POT 19 years old

RW Marc-Olivier Mima 3 years @ 660K (3rd round 82nd overall)
66 OVR (SNP) B-/B-/B- POT 18 years old

D Cason Machacek 3 years @ 605K (2nd round 31st overall)
64 OVR (TGH) C/A-/B POT 18 years old

LW Bryant Fairchild 3 years @ 580K (2nd round 35th overall)
63 OVR (PWF) A/B-/B- POT 19 years old

D Brock Sutherland 3 years @ 550K (1st round 5th overall)
62 OVR (DFD) B-/A/B- POT 19 years old

D Jake Cardwell 3 years @ 550K (2nd round 58th overall)
62 OVR (DFD) B-/A-/B- POT 18 years old

LW Mike Brown 3 years @ 500K (4th round 95th overall)
60 OVR (GRN) B-/B-/B- POT 20 years old

G Peter Di Salvo 3 years @ 605K (2nd round 42nd overall)
64 OVR (HYB) B/B-/A- POT 19 years old

Analyst comments:
So 15 players out, 12 draftees in and one returning player. A lot of grit in those draftees some soon to be nasty players. Soon to be players helps your minor club, but not the Islanders (immediately) on the next recap we will review major trades, the lone returning player and free agent signings.

[Dynasty]

Welcome everyone to our next block of Islander coverage, as I mentioned earlier today lets have a look at the lone returning player to get a contract.

LW Rob Schremp 3 years @ 1.040M per season
80 OVR (PLY) B-/C/C POT 24 years old
Analyst comments:
I don't think Robby turned out how the Islanders were hoping he would. none the less he is a strong depth player with scoring upside, I see nothing wrong with this move.

Off season trades:

Before we begin the recap, if there is ANY Islanders fan left to not see these block busters on sports center. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN?????? Pattenden has made great strides to bring in high end talent, expect the Islanders to be much more exciting this year! but as with everything, it came at a price. Read on fellow fans, if you dare.

Trade:
RW Kyle Okposo (PWF) 2011 4th (NYI)
TO ANA FOR:
RW Bobby Ryan (PWF)
Player stats:
Okposo 83 OVR 1 year remaining @ 1.78M B-/B-/B- POT 22 years old
Ryan 84 OVR 3 years remaining @ 3.99M B/B/B POT 23 years old
Analyst comments:
Well Islanders faithful here is a statement in capitol letters that says I MEAN SERIOUS Business, Addressed from your GM Steve Pattenden. It would have been nice to give Okposo his time here on the island to become a great player, but getting Bobby Ryan back in return just cant be turned down. Ryan is further ahead in development and has a higher upside (in my opinion of course) then Okposo does, he will cost us more on the cap hit. but here on the Island cap is not a problem.

Trade:
D Mark Streit (OFD) LW Jesse Joensuu (TWF) 2011 7th (NYI)
TO NJ FOR:
LW Zach Parise (PLY)
Player stats:
Streit 84 OVR 3 years @ 4.98M remaining C/C/C POT 32 years old
Joensuu 74 OVR 1 year @ 850K remaining B-/B-/B- POT 22 years old
Parise 89 OVR 1 year @ 2.85M remaining B-/C/C POT 25 years old
Analyst comments:
Well now I am sure everyone reading this has seen at least one Devils game in the past three years, do you remember who stood out in almost everyone of them? thats right, Zach Parise. This kid has an awesome skill set on him, and plays on both sides of the puck in all zones of the ice, he scores, he passes, he skates. Simply fantastic. We gave up a good prospect a future prospect and our franchise defenseman to get this guy, but as far as this analyst is concerned, well worth it! I find it curious that Jersey would trade him, but being a contract year he is due for a large raise and maybe they for see his budget not fitting with thiers.

Trade:
G Rick Dipietro (BUT) C Josh Bailey (PLY) 2011 6th (NYI)
TO TB FOR:
C Steven Stamkos (SNP)
Player stats:
Dipietro 84 OVR 7 years remaining @ 5.38M per season C/C/C POT 28 years old
Bailey 80 OVR 1 year remaining @ 1.755M per season B-/B-/B- POT 20 years old
Stamkos 88 OVR 1 year remaining @ 1.375M per season B/B-B- POT 20 years old
Analyst comments:
I wasn't sure if I heard cheering in the streets or booing and cries of "noooo" when it was announced Dipietro and Bailey had been traded, but I am sure that all changed to a gasp of excitement when the name Steven Stamkos was said to be in the deal. The Islanders offense just became down right explosive. I don't know what Pattenden said to Tampa to get Stamkos out of there, but they have been searching for a number one goalie for a long time, hopefully rick doesn't break on them, and Bailey is no slouch either. I still blink at this trade, amazed it ever happened.

Free Agents:

D Steve Pratt (OFD) 8 years @ 3M per season
68 OVR A/A/A POT 27 years old

C John Madden (GRN) 1 year @ 1.310M
81 OVR D/C-/D POT 37 years old

G Marty Turco (BUT) 1 year @ 4.640M
84 OVR C/C/C POT 35 years old

D Tom Preissing (OFD) 3 years @ 1.5M per season
77 OVR C/C/C POT 31 years old

RW Evgeny Artyukhin (GRN) 2 years @ 2M per season
81 OVR C/C/C POT 27 years old

LW Jay Pandolfo (GRN) 1 year @ 655K
80 OVR C-/C/C- POT 35 years old

D Mathieu Schneider (OFD) 1 year @ 1M
77 OVR D/D/D POT 41 years old

Analyst comments:
Filling some holes it would seem, looks like the Islanders got more offensive punch, and yet more defensive capability all at the same time, while these guys are older, and a step or.. five.. slower then they used to be I believe the club as a whole is much stronger. My only worry at this time would be two older goalies with no replacements in the wings, our D is still suspect and we lack secondary scoring. But I suppose I can\t have everything I want all at once.

Lets move onto my interview with GM Steve Patenden. I will be posting the most interesting tidbits here just to keep the length appealing.

Q: What were you thinking?!?!?!?!?

A: Bold steps forward, a nod to the fans that we are trying to change the culture of this club, we are getting bigger, stronger more physical and harder to play against, the flip side of that coin we are also increasing our talent level and skilled finishers. I am already in contract talks with zach Parise and Steven Stamkos, and plan to have a deal agreed upon long before deadline day, I want these guys here for a long long time. Remember this is only year one of my five year plan, and so far I have executed everything on my list of things to do, exactly as they were planned.

Q: You shipped out a few of the key pieces here. Namely Dipietro Okposo and Striet, whats up with that?

A: As I said before, bold steps ahead. I believe the moves we have made not only make us stronger now but also in our future.

Q: Turco has faltered time and time again in the post season, are you concerned about that?

A: Marty is a professional, he understands why he is here, and we trust in his play. Between Turco and Rolly I believe we have a very solid and reliable tandem.

Q: Any other moves planned?

A: Yes of course, I have 5 years of possible moves, and more for this season if it is possible to do, The core of this team has changed, and I want to get my final pieces in as quickly as possible so the team can bond and learn together, grow as a unit, learn as a team in all aspects. We took a long and hard run at Kovalchuk before he was taken off the market, just as an example of things that didn't work. I have made many calls about other wingers and multiple goaltenders before we signed Marty. Not everything will work out as we all know, but res assured the Islanders have a long term plan for success, this is just the beginning.