You know, with all these thoughts and shit running through my mind lately of whether or not I should step down or continue on, I've come to some sort of reflection phase. During my time as a manager, we've seen some good success and have had many great players and people play for the Bear logo. Despite never making it all the way, and that is the end goal after all, I feel like I've done a pretty good job. Things haven't fallen into place each season like we would have maybe liked, but we always come out good. Critics follow you everywhere and I'm sure there's even going to be the few popping up here saying "you never won a cup so there is no success", but I've found you have to shrug it off and push forward. We made the push last season and came that close to winning it all and even though it may seem we're a ways out of it this season, there's still a chance and there's surely hope. Yes, I've never won a cup and yes, it haunts me each and every season that we push forward, but I'm grateful to be in the position I'm in - to work and build with the guys I have over the many, many seasons I've been behind the role and always look forward to chasing a cup with Seattle.
Now, the last season or two I've felt some stress - some pressure and frustration with how things have turned out. Before Hedgehog or someone can chime in that it was because of the finals loss, it wasn't. Sure, it was disappointing and shitty to lose after making it that far and taking down a strong Legion team in an absolute nail biter series, but it felt good to 1. Finally win a playoff series 2. Progress further than we have during my tenure. The loss was painful, but it's a learning curve. Not ever GM gets luck like Hedgehog and some don't have experience like STZ, etc. This stress and pressure have been getting to me lately - eating me away. The reflection phase I was going through was showing more negative than positive, but I feel now that it's all mind over matter - whichever perspective you wish to take on. Sure, again, no cups. Yet, we've had a good run in Seattle during my tenure and I've put in the craziest amounts of work during each season to try and make it happen. From writing countless articles for numerous members (Green, Lunaro, Evvry, LaFlamme and more), to the lines, trades, trade talks, talking with the boys and dealing with the countless other everyday and season duties that we hold as GM's - It's all been worth it. It's why I've loved the job. The chase. The dream of winning that cup. It'll happen and when it does, it's gonna feel like the biggest weight off my shoulders. Like you've drank too much whiskey, can barely get it to stand and are just pounding this bitch with a 10% flopper and you finally, somehow - magically and wonderfully, find a way to bust a nut.
With that said, I got curious. Where do I stand? What's my record? How many games do I have behind my tenure? Where do I stand on the Bears lists? It may not be the greatest record to some, but that's simply statistics and while that it the biggest part to it all, I've taken os much more out of it and felt I've accomplished much more too. There's a lot of guys I maybe never would have chatted much with who had come on board that I now seek counsel from, or who we talk to on a personal level. I help some guys stay active or take the work load off their shoulders a bit. Whatever, whenever. It's Seattle first.
S49
My first season behind the bench. I'll always remember it as my biggest blunder. The competition was immense in the conference and North America was looking like one gigantic beast in the east (pussies, that ain't a lot of snow). We went all-in, making some bold moves and bringing in some strong talent. Honestly, on paper and maybe in any other season in recent seasons, we may have won. It was a crazy fucking team and it left me baffled how we finished where we did, but we did. If you look at the standings, the 3rd and final spot team in NA finished with 115 points. If Seattle were in the European conference, they would have finished first by 7 points. Despite a fairly decent record, playoffs weren't our forte. I kicked things while I could and immediately entered a rebuild/retool phase.
S50
We brought in a little youth this season, started to stock up our youngsters and had Jakab Holik in net. While the season and what was immediately ahead wasn't looking good, the future wasn't looking too bad for the team. If not mistaken, this was the season Valmont made the surprise return and decided to be a huge cunt and retire. This was a huge hit to the team as he was a piece moving forward or at least an asset that could have been dealt. The retirement made no sense, and still has me baffled to this day, but it is what it is. Note to self, that's a player that struggles with activity for you. Lesson learned, move on.
S51
We officially got over the hump and after a little time off from playoffs, the Seattle Bears were back in the mix. Although the season was amazing, it was playoff material and we were happy. We never expected a cup, but it was a good sign moving forward and showed us we were heading in the right direction. Pieces were falling together and we really had a nice system of players on the roster. Funny enough, we made the playoffs with 80 points - 2 less than S49's finale which also only seen one team breaking those totals for team points on the year (that being the Wranglers with 132). Podarok continued to lead the way and Holik continued to grow, despite having a weaker defensive system.
S52
It really seemed like this year could be the year. In my eyes, this season and the next one were some of the shittiest luck we could have ever had. We had the team. We dominated the regular season, which to some members means everything in the damn world. We built a team and everyone was doing there part. Funny, people always look to the regular season for GM of the Year, but despite finishing 9 points ahead of any other team in the league, Campbell never received it. The Bears absolutely dominated the season and the early exit in the playoffs was a tough one to swallow for us. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with how things ended.
S53
Similar performance from the Bears in the regular season. They dominated but the race was a little closer. They had 5 players break 100 points and had Holik under 1.6 GAA. Where was his GMoTY award? Fucking weird right. Everyone is up in arms in the BoG about regular season and moves meaning so much, but it lacks evidence in these last 2 seasons of voting, doesn't it? Maybe it seems a little bit like cups and playoffs used to matter but no longer do because no one gives two shits anymore. Either way, good season, shit playoffs as usual. The team takes an early exit
S54
You can call the first whatever we did somewhat of a retool, but this was a full on rebuild. Good bye talent, hello youth and the bottom, basement of the standings. It was really shit going through this, but it was needed to be done. Unfortunately, looking back at this, we could have left the rebuild a lot more successful then we did. This season, we only added Federov to the season, with some other pieces in the minors league systems. The season was garbage but is expected during a rebuild. No harm, no foul. Seattle moved forward as expected. It only hurt my overall record, haha.
S55
It just took a little while to take off, didn't it? Another extremely rough patch for the team and just when you thought it couldn't get worse then last season, it did for Bears fans. Federov was the only solid piece on the organization. If not mistaken, the Bears had a pick that absolutely shit the bed and Federov was the only solid piece really on the Bears VHL roster. God bless them winning the lottery draft which eventually held the keys to driving home a brand new ferrari (Gabriel McAllister).
S56
We started to climb out of the shitty hole that we put ourselves into. The team brought in goalie Mist4ke, who they brought in simply to give him a little bit better of a time than the team he was currently playing on. They also surrounded Federov with a little bit more help by bringing in Mcallister and Forsberg too. All 3 players earned 70 points or more (Mcallister capping it at 89) and the team already seemed a little better. Unfortunately, it may have been a little bit too slow of a revamp/rebuild and looking back, I see this now. As mediocre, or poor of a record as they had, they only missed the playoffs by 8 points.. lol
S57
Fook Yu, quill, Dortch, Bourdon, V2A and blah blah were added to the organization and things were looking up. Despite the normal hiccups, the team was looking like it may final be on their way back to playoffs and playoff hockey could be returning to TV's in Seattle. They pushed and pushed and played really solid at the start of the year, but started to simmer down at the later half. This showed and reflected on their record and they missed playoffs by 10 points (88 points). Tough, tough way to end a season for everyone on the team. Again, maybe too late of an organization/roster push - dunno.
S58
Hot start followed by another simmer down period, but the Bears finished 3rd in the entire league and only 6 points back of 1st place. The team was looking really solid but seemingly were the underdogs throughout the entire season and playoffs. FINALLY. We make it through a fucking playoff series too. It's been forever and more.. and were make it to the finals too.. man, what a rush. What excitement. What Nerves.. all of the above.. it was crazy and an emotional ride. We came close, it was a great season and a great performance with great people. Shitty it had to end that way but was a great experience and taste of what it COULD be like..
S59
And we're present. Welcome to today. The Bears aren't performing as hot as they were last season and this could be because of the update scale or the fact that they had to toss away 2 really great players and really only seen one returned to the roster in Johnsson (Quik). Either way, the team has done some juggling and are looking to be getting back on track. The season is still young, we're excited and still maintaining positivity and realize you don't have to finish first to make it far. You only have to finish first to be in GMoTY contention (come on guys, know I'm 75% joking and 25% being real. Settle down).
CAREER
I mean, it hasn't been a bad one. Like I said above, there's some things I would have done differently and there's some things I wouldn't have. I feel as though Kendrick was right with one thing and this ultimately does play a part in where were at. During the moment, I wasn't keen on making moves if I had some sort of relationship with a player. LaFlamme, great guy and extremely loyal and he's finally playing some nice hockey. He seemed great at the start - but it was a mistake pick. Just being honest. Another would be maybe a late push for the second rebuild. With Holik and them, we did it right. I think we kind of got fucked by luck and NYA was also a solid team too though. This time around, maybe it was too slow - not sure. Doesn't help that Riga had a horseshoe up their ass with mediocre players playing like elite talents and Wayne Gretzky Jr's. Either way, yeah - not a whole lot of playoff success but I'm still very happy with my career and all the stages along the way. Very grateful to have shared an LR with many great people and look forward to more to come
Coming up on the 400th win of my career. Pretty neat milestone. Seeing this definitely makes me a little happy about shit. Not happy about getting that 300th L this season though. Needed a 71-1-0 season - DAMN.
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