I think this was the off-season, of most recent times, that I REALLY, REALLY contemplated with the idea of stepping down. I've been a GM for quite awhile now (18 seasons straight and counting, which is a record if you newer members didn't know *wink) and I think it's safe to say that it's pretty rare to see a GM go the distance some of us had - especially considering lots drop out during cycles. We'll call them cycle GM's from now on! Anyway, it really was something that was on my mind from even before we were eliminated from playoffs. I knew the cards were going to be stacked - Thompson very well was knocking on doors and asking anyone other than Seattle to come on in. I'm sure, with the right cards in deck, that he would have come back. The issue was, we had a great deck still - but it was the same deck and that deck was getting beat by others despite being amazing 99% of the season. This was a problem for me and I knew that this season especially, it was going to be difficult. HOWEVER, with this "wonderful" new cap system in place - it may have made things slightly easier. Though, I doubt that overly would have been the case. You weren't making up for the loss that would have been Thompson. Those are some big shoes to fill and with all the up and coming teams that are on the verge of contending (there was quite a lot), what better time to sell the team? This ignited a fuel in my stomach - one I haven't felt basically since our cup win. This off-season also looked like it had amazing potential and it came through. Maybe the best draft and off-season etc of all time? To me, anyway. So, let's break some things down and earn some sweet words.
Trade #1 - SEA/CGY
Acquires:
Lando Baxter
Wlodzimierz Zajaczkowski
S66 CGY 1st
S67 CGY 1st
S67 CGY 2nd
S67 HSK 2nd
Acquires:
Matt Thompson
Maxim Kovalchuk
Sebastian Ironside
S67 SEA 4th
Breakdown:
In this trade, Seattle evidently was deciding to do a rebuild - or maybe, a heavy retool. This trade, while looking like a rebuild because they're giving away a crazy amount of extremely high end talent, didn't necessarily have to mean rebuild. We managed to trade Maxim Kovalchuk (D), Sebastien Ironside (F) and the Rights to Matt Thompson to Calgary for 2 players and 4 strong picks that we really needed. To me this trade was a no brainer for us. I wanted to do my best in keeping a good chunk of some of the talent together. Really sell of to a team that was going to buy back. Calgary was that partner this off-season. Thompson was likely gone anyway. I'd be a smart betting man to say that Thompson was as good as gone. Not because the team wasn't good or couldn't win the cup, but because he needed change and the team needed change. The same wasn't working. With the two lower players coming in from Calgary, they still managed to fill voids and do so in a way that with what we had left, with the right market and moves, we could compete if we wanted to.
The thought did cross my mind, but at the end of the day, with how strong the drafts were and owning 3rd overall in the S66 draft - it made way too much sense to rebuild. The pot was big and the opportunity, if done well, to have a strong and quik rebuild was there. OR, go for another round and face a tougher position with lesser valued assets the following season.
Trade #2 - SEA/DAV
Acquires:
S67 SEA 1st
S68 DAV 2nd
Acquires:
Vera Dragomir (F)
This deal, I managed to Send @Velevra to a competitive team. Davos is looking real good with all the boxes checked off when it comes to positional talent. Dragomir came over from Quebec - now Vancouver - and while he had good seasons with Vancouver, he hit a pattern and his great seasons were still ahead of him. I figured change, somewhat similar to what Thompson wanted, was in need and that bringing him on, I could really help find his top level and we surely did. He had amazing seasons here and went from being that good player to that great player. In this deal, I also got my 1st back from Seattle which maybe people can go "haha" for, but whatever. I'm a rebuilding team and it makes more sense to do it with my next seasons first rounder than without it. When I traded the 1st to Davos, I was competing and had no use for it. I would have preferred to get out of cap hell and at least gain, at the time, a decent player. The additional 2nd was nice as both picks should land nice prospects and overall, I think it was a great deal for both sides at the end of the day. This deal largely helps Seattle's rebuild and I mean, Dragomir in Davos is going to be a good thing. I wish him nothing but the best!
Trade #3 - SEA/VAN
Acquires:
Tristan Iseult (G)
S66 TOR 2nd
Acquires:
Roger Sterling (G)
For me, this was all about getting @Will to a competing team instead of sitting on a rebuilding team. He sat through the rebuild with us during the start of his career, I'd hate for him to end with one as well. Sometimes it's tough to a move a goalie, but I knew I had a few options. I figured Beav would be into this idea and would be willing to find a way to get it done. Sterling I believe is a season younger with more TPE. He's also active (if you can call it that, hehe) and Iseult was not. The fact that a 2nd was coming on top of Iseult made the trade and easy one to make. I was replacing Sterling with a goalie that was still pretty decent. I don't and didn't have much of a use for him as we're rebuilding, but figured - hey, he's an asset that could be flipped too. If not, it is what it is and he can gladly stay, no issues. Same as the others, hope Sterling continues his good career with Vancouver.
Trade #4 - SEA/NYA
Acquires:
S67 NYA 1st
Acquires:
Piotr Jerwa
This deal also made a bit of sense. Most know the situation of Seattle being in cap trouble and having to make a move with limited options and a very tough market. If you want to know more, Shawn has zero issue reminding people or bringing it up and can be reached on the forum or discord. Now, at the time, an overpayment was made to Jerwa but he was on a team and played for a GM that he didn't like and he did have a good, young player on his hands that had the potential of being better than Malenko. This deal, it was different. Jerwa hadn't updated for a while and it was apparent that his forum levels also took a massive dip. He also expressed zero interest or enthusiasm in the league. I like the guy and he always seems great in other leagues. But, a 1st for his player right now, made sense to me. It was a good deal and maybe I got a little more than I should have. Good stuff. But, wish NYA the best with him and If he does happen to return to good activity, I hope it works out for both him and NYA.
Trade #5 - SEA/MAL
Acquires:
S66 MAL 3rd
Acquires:
Gucci Garrop
S66 SEA 4th
I got a message from a prospect who now plays for the Bears and with the message you could really tell he put a lot into it. I was impressed and I really liked the passion he showed about the league, his player and Seattle. It was something I hadn't seen, to that extent, in quite sometime where I was like "fuck yeah. I need to get this guy on my team". After conversing back and forth, it literally became my mission to somehow sneak into the 2nd or 3rd round. FORTUNATELY, without leaking information to @leafssteen, I finally found a trading partner in ADV and Malmo. I kind of seen what his build was and what he was doing with his team. I didn't think he'd overly be into a 3rd for a player who isn't the highest for TPE, is in his final rookie year and doesn't post an incredible amount. I added the 4th. To me, it was a fair sacrifice. The 3rd round pick landed myself and the Bears Clayton Parks, a guy I'm very hopeful and confident in that he could be a very great goalie in this league. If it turns out good for us, right on but adding him to the team was a really sweet feeling and I'm very excited to see what him and the Bears can do. Let's do it!
Trade #6 - SEA/CGY
Acquires:
S67 DAV 2nd
S67 SEA 4th
Acquires:
Vyacheslav Smirnov
Yeah, I know - another trade. This off-season was so much for I think for 99% of GM's basically and it was a wild one. Once again, I found myself trading with Bush but we always kind of knew that this trade was gonna happen. It was somewhat dependant on how Free Agency went but even then, I think he would have got Smirnov on the team. He's a great player and as a one year rental, I was hoping for someone to toss out a desperate 1st but to me, sending Smirnov with my other player and to Calgary made most sense. The 2nd as we seen from this draft, as well as really the 4th (less likely, but still possible), could very well land some pretty damn good prospects and that's what our goal is right now. Another about 60% of this deal was me getting excited about my new GM player and really just wanting to get started. Thus, Smirnov had to go. Hope I do something for CGY this year. Maybe I can go back to my rookie season numbers? That would be nice.
Trade #7 - SEA/TOR
Acquires:
S67 MOS 4th
Acquires:
Wlodzimierz Zajaczkowski
Very minor deal. Devise don't like picks and I had no use for this player on my roster. At this point, you're horny for trading - how could you not be? and really, who is going to pay more than this - especially with a lot of deals already being popped off and teams somewhat being close or done finalizing their rosters. It made as much sense as a minor deal like this could make. Toronto gets a depth player and they use a pick that might be a good player - there's a chance - but there's also a strong chance that it's very well not. For me, I lose a depth player I had zero use of and added lower to middle round 4th pick that maybe, just maybe, becomes a good player for Seattle. Chances of that? Guess we find out next draft.
Trade #8 - SEA/NYA
Acquires:
S68 TOR 4th
Sven Hitz
Scott Shawinganen
Acquires:
S68 SEA 4th
It's a cap situation trade and I was willing to gain cap. Made sense. I replaced the 4th rounder and I gained 2 assets that I could move. If I can't, well, whatever. It's not the end of the world and they may have a small impact on helping my current young players play a little better. Win/Win.
Trade #9 - SEA/NYA
Acquires:
Samuel Gate
Eric Parker
Acquires:
S68 SEA 3rd
Same as above. They needed to move can and I was one of the very few teams with enough room left. It was a 3rd round pick, but Gate is valued higher at that. Cap deals blow! Gate is on the block but his price is higher than paid here and so it should be. It was paid higher in a trade recently and he's still a serviceable, good player that a GM has the option of playing D or swapping him to forward if they REALLY wanted to. Eric Parker was just a small bonus. Nothing huge but again, he might help the current younger players on my team play a little better and that's what I care about.
Ending:
I've hit my 2,000 + word requirement to claim this for 4 weeks so I won't keep you guys too long, but DAMN... 9 trades. 9 trades. No, not this off-season when you pile up all the other teams... SEATTLE made 9 trades. That's insane and that exactly why I decided not to step down from managing the Bears. Could you imagine missing that - the amazing draft we had and the future of this league in the role of a GM? Crazy shit to think about. I'm a crazy man for both thinking the thought of stepping down, but also for being a GM for the amount of season I've been. Seattle had an amazing off-season, it was way too much fun despite the hiccups and stressed of being a commissioner, and I'm so excited for the future of this team. We have exceptional youth right now and we're only going to be adding more in the S67 VHL Entry Draft.
.png.ed69a7260a477fcf4feead7a0e4b7506.png)
