Otis Boudreaux Jr

Interested!

Game 101 Review:
Las Vegas Aces vs. Saskatoon Wild 
 
At first glance, one might see just a game against the two bottom teams in the Western Conference, the Saskatoon Wild and the Las Vegas Aces. But in reality, both teams have been playing fairly well and it’s a battle for a playoff spot even this early in the season. With the season series split evenly 2-2 and every game won by one goal (and one decided in a shootout), Saskatoon decided it was time to change the narrative. In the Wild’s best offensive game thus far (and Las Vegas’ worst defensive performance of the year), Saskatoon jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Vegas got one late in the second period and the game would end in a 7-3 victory for the team from the prairies tying them with 21 points in the standings. Otis Boudreaux Jr @Otis Boudreaux Jr and Volt Sparks @Vo1t each had four points for Saskatoon and Montgomery Burns @LastOneUp continued his hot start scoring his team-leading 11th goal of the season and adding an assist. Goalie Joseph Reed @BrutalBoost picked up his 10th win stopping 24 of 27 shots. Tarro Tsujimoto @Taro Tsujimoto potted two goals and an assist for the Aces in the losing cause.

Congrats. Best of luck, except when you are playing Saskatoon, HAHA

Saskatoon Wild - Moving in the Right Direction?
 
(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) The Saskatoon Wild have not had the most auspicious start to their current season. The league table sees the Wild occupying the bottom of their division. They have earned 15 points, with a record of 7-10-1 and a goal difference of -11. Things do not look well for the team. The only team with a worst record are the Ottawa Lynx at 6-12-0 and only 12 points with a goal difference of -17. From first glance, yes, there is concern with the team and its standing. One has to wonder if this is going to be another season where Saskatoon is just a road bump that other teams have to go over on their way to organizational glory.

But things may not be as they seem for the hometown Wild. One of the biggest challenges with bringing a team together is to have them start thinking as one, have them skate, act, pass, defend and shoot as one. Yes, the Wild have 10 losses, but 6 of them have been by only 1 goal. As the team started to gel the hope is this would change. It appears this corner may finally have been turned.
 
The last three games saw the Wild win a shootout against Mexico City followed by victories against Ottawa and Houston. The shootout saw 4 goals, but the highlight had to be how Goaltender Joseph Reed blocked both of the shots from Mexico City. The Ottawa game was another 1 point game, but this time the Wild came out on top of the 4-3 score line. The final game was a 3-1 victory over the Houston Bulls. Even though there are only 2 victories added to the overtime win, it is the longest win streak in this season. Every win gives the team an opportunity to build off of the previous one. And now, there are 2 in a row to hopefully propel the team to more victories.

The team has been aided by the excellent play of Forward Monty Burns as he leads the team with 10 goals and 8 assists, giving him a team best 18 points. Ben Lass with 5 goals and 12 assists and 17 points. Tord Yvel is the third highest point holder on the team with 15 points, 4 goals and 11 assists. The distribution of the points and the sharing of the goals shows how the team has started to gel. Every team needs a "face". That person who everyone associates with the team and personifies who they are.
 
It appears that, with no planning, that player is Monty Burns. All that is needed to confirm this is to look around the city and see how people have latched onto this young Canadian. His face is on every billboard, on the sides of buses and his jersey is starting to appear on the backs of the young men and women of the city. People want a hero and Monty is it for the Saskatoon Wild.

Now only time will tell if this team of young upstarts will continue to climb that mountain to victories. But it appears, no matter what, the people of Saskatoon are behind them.

Word Count: 530
Claimed: Week ending 16 Apr

How would I apply? I am interested, even though I am on Saskatoon, lol

Otis Boudreaux Jr, a name with a history and a player with no where to go but up. Yea, that is how I feel. I was drafted by the Saskatoon Wild and joined the team with so many big dreams. I figured that all I would need to do what I had been doing and the goals, the assists, the accolades and the wins, would continue. I joined a team of players who all wanted to get better and we felt that the world was ours to take.

Then the season started. We just could not find our stride. Loss followed loss. Those close games just were not falling our way. Every team faces those 1 goal losses, but we seemed to be getting more than our fair share of them. I could not start to think if I was part of the problem. Hitting the net, beating the opposition goalie, used to be second nature. But every missed shot, every errant pass, they all seemed to eat away at my confidence. 
 
Then came that game against Mexico City. The arena at home was full. I cannot help but wonder why they were there. We just were not playing that well. But that night felt different, it seemed like I was in the zone again and my mojo had snuck back into me. The game was tied 2-2 and went into overtime. We all know the rules, if we can score 2 and maintain that lead, we win. But we know how the season has been, but tonight was different. Maybe part of it was the fact that not only had I scored 1 goal, I had actually scored 2. Both of the goals in regular time were mine. I just felt I couldnt miss.

Monty Burns was our first shooter. He took the puck and moved swiftly down the ice, moving the puck from side to side. No one is really sure how he even did it, but the siren went off, the lights flashed in the arena as he gave us that all important first goal. Mexico City's Noel Roux Jr took the puck and tried a shot to Goalie Joseph Reed's stick side and he deftly knocked the puck aside. Then it was my turn, they were not going to stop me! I got the puck and smoothly moved it from side to side, it was like practice, I was back home, just me, the stick and the puck. I picked up speed and ducked my head to the left as I switched the puck to my right and tucked the puck into the open net. He had fallen for my head bob! I had done my part, now it was up to Joseph Reed again. He faced Mexico's Alex DeLuca and just like he had practiced it, smoothly snatched the puck out of the air with his open glove. 
 
I had my first multi-goal game and had earned the 1st star! What a game!! We went on to win the next 2 games, scoring in 1 and getting the assist in the other. At this point in the season I have 6 goals and 6 assists. But more importantly, we are winning now!

I hope it continues, not only me getting points for the team, but being able to play my part in us getting those all important wins. Damn, I love this game!

Word count: 568
Claimed: Week of 16 Apr

How would I apply? I am interested, even though I am on Saskatoon, lol

How would I apply? I am interested, even though I am on Saskatoon, lol

This post is sufficient to declare interest, we'll follow up if we have specific questions 

Saskatoon Wild - Moving in the Right Direction?
 
(Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) The Saskatoon Wild have not had the most auspicious start to their current season. The league table sees the Wild occupying the bottom of their division. They have earned 15 points, with a record of 7-10-1 and a goal difference of -11. Things do not look well for the team. The only team with a worst record are the Ottawa Lynx at 6-12-0 and only 12 points with a goal difference of -17. From first glance, yes, there is concern with the team and its standing. One has to wonder if this is going to be another season where Saskatoon is just a road bump that other teams have to go over on their way to organizational glory.

But things may not be as they seem for the hometown Wild. One of the biggest challenges with bringing a team together is to have them start thinking as one, have them skate, act, pass, defend and shoot as one. Yes, the Wild have 10 losses, but 6 of them have been by only 1 goal. As the team started to gel the hope is this would change. It appears this corner may finally have been turned.
 
The last three games saw the Wild win a shootout against Mexico City followed by victories against Ottawa and Houston. The shootout saw 4 goals, but the highlight had to be how Goaltender Joseph Reed blocked both of the shots from Mexico City. The Ottawa game was another 1 point game, but this time the Wild came out on top of the 4-3 score line. The final game was a 3-1 victory over the Houston Bulls. Even though there are only 2 victories added to the overtime win, it is the longest win streak in this season. Every win gives the team an opportunity to build off of the previous one. And now, there are 2 in a row to hopefully propel the team to more victories.

The team has been aided by the excellent play of Forward Monty Burns as he leads the team with 10 goals and 8 assists, giving him a team best 18 points. Ben Lass with 5 goals and 12 assists and 17 points. Tord Yvel is the third highest point holder on the team with 15 points, 4 goals and 11 assists. The distribution of the points and the sharing of the goals shows how the team has started to gel. Every team needs a "face". That person who everyone associates with the team and personifies who they are.
 
It appears that, with no planning, that player is Monty Burns. All that is needed to confirm this is to look around the city and see how people have latched onto this young Canadian. His face is on every billboard, on the sides of buses and his jersey is starting to appear on the backs of the young men and women of the city. People want a hero and Monty is it for the Saskatoon Wild.

Now only time will tell if this team of young upstarts will continue to climb that mountain to victories. But it appears, no matter what, the people of Saskatoon are behind them.

Word Count: 530
Claimed: Week ending 16 Apr

I taught high school history/government/economics for 15 years. It would turn my stomach to stand in front of my students and talk about the "Great Compromise" and the other monumental compromises in the history of the USA and then turn on the news and hear politicians treating it as a sign of weakness...that somehow acknowledging there may be a differing viewpoint from theirs was some sort of act of weakness or desperation.  I remember President Reagan working with House Speaker Tip O'Neill on plans to help the country, not 1 party over the other, but the whole country. I remember Pres Clinton working with House Speaker Newt Gingrich to move the country forward. But not anymore.

Everything has become a 0-sum game. That someone being given a right somehow takes it away from another, or diminishes the value of another's rights. It doesnt. Human rights are not a pizza that has to be shared amongst a select few...it is an unlimited pizza buffet where all can eat as much as they want. But for that to happen there needs to be an acceptance that, just as one side is entitled to their opinion and belief, so is the other side. But the way the country can only move forward is if we do it together, not by sacrificing the other side.

I normally stay out of political discussions in sim leagues. But I want to applaud you for how civil this has been. That is what will be the difference, civil exchanges where everyone walks away feeling like they were heard. When conversations occur in a bubble, people can create their own reality, their own "truth" if you will. No one questions, no one challenges so there is no growth. Hearing what one wants to hear is not empowering, it stunts growth. 

The objective is to teach people to think for themselves, to give them the skills to view all sides of an issue and then decide how they want to proceed with it. Learning is intellectually painful, expanding what we "know" causes discomfort....but it also leads to growth...to forming new beliefs and being inspired to push the envelope of what is the "reality" for the rest of society.

Sorry, got on a coffee fueled sermon...but rock on folks! My generation has made a mess of some things...but I believe that you will look at history the way it should be looked at and see the good...and the bad, while learning from both. 

That is the way to move forward...looking back to see what can be learned...applying it and taking those steps...one at a time.

I taught high school history/government/economics for 15 years. It would turn my stomach to stand in front of my students and talk about the "Great Compromise" and the other monumental compromises in the history of the USA and then turn on the news and hear politicians treating it as a sign of weakness...that somehow acknowledging there may be a differing viewpoint from theirs was some sort of act of weakness or desperation.  I remember President Reagan working with House Speaker Tip O'Neill on plans to help the country, not 1 party over the other, but the whole country. I remember Pres Clinton working with House Speaker Newt Gingrich to move the country forward. But not anymore.

Everything has become a 0-sum game. That someone being given a right somehow takes it away from another, or diminishes the value of another's rights. It doesnt. Human rights are not a pizza that has to be shared amongst a select few...it is an unlimited pizza buffet where all can eat as much as they want. But for that to happen there needs to be an acceptance that, just as one side is entitled to their opinion and belief, so is the other side. But the way the country can only move forward is if we do it together, not by sacrificing the other side.

I normally stay out of political discussions in sim leagues. But I want to applaud you for how civil this has been. That is what will be the difference, civil exchanges where everyone walks away feeling like they were heard. When conversations occur in a bubble, people can create their own reality, their own "truth" if you will. No one questions, no one challenges so there is no growth. Hearing what one wants to hear is not empowering, it stunts growth. 

The objective is to teach people to think for themselves, to give them the skills to view all sides of an issue and then decide how they want to proceed with it. Learning is intellectually painful, expanding what we "know" causes discomfort....but it also leads to growth...to forming new beliefs and being inspired to push the envelope of what is the "reality" for the rest of society.

Sorry, got on a coffee fueled sermon...but rock on folks! My generation has made a mess of some things...but I believe that you will look at history the way it should be looked at and see the good...and the bad, while learning from both. 

That is the way to move forward...looking back to see what can be learned...applying it and taking those steps...one at a time.

Saskatoon Wild - A Story in the Making
 
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A city of just over 250,000 people along the South Saskatchewan River. The city that loves its hockey and can not wait to see the puck drop on the start of a new season for their home team, the Saskatoon Wild. The crowd was there, the team was dressed and there it was, the first puck drop of the new season. The Wild were hosting the Mississauga Hounds in their season opener. At the end, the difference between the two sides was apparent as the Wild lost 0-2. Wild goalie, Joseph Reed, could not be faulted as he stopped 33 shots out of 35. But the skaters just could not find the net on the other end of the ice. The crowd went home disappointed, but even in the defeat, there was a positive buzz surrounding the team.

The Wild have a young team. They did not have the chance to meet until after the draft. None of them had been on the ice together. So while trying to improve throughout the season they will also be working to come together as a team. There have not been any noted team leaders in this young season, but it is still early and hopes are high that the team will not only gel, but will be able to transfer that to gametime situations.

The second game of the season saw The Wild travel to Ottawa for their first meeting of the season against the hometown Lynx. This contest found the Wild on top at the end of the game. The final score was 1-2 with the Wild getting goals from Thijs Mooij and Darko Alexander Malkovich. While the team was disappointed to have given up the second period goal to the Lynx's Lucky Mitts to tie the game, the winning goal by Darko sealed the victory.

Saskatoon then traveled to Halifax to take on the 21st. Where the Wild were exposed in a 1-4 loss. The only Wild goal came courtesy of Tord Yvel. The Wild seemed to be confused by the tactics of the 21st and never seemed to be playing on their level. 
 
The final game of the week saw Saskatoon on the road once again as they traveled south of the border to take on the Las Vegas Aces. The Wild had traveled 4,351 km to get to Halifax with the stop in Ottawa. They then had to go another 5,384, literally from one side of North America to the other so they could get to Vegas. The Wild did not seem to show any jet-lag as they were competitive in the game but came out on the wrong side of the final score of 2-3. Montgomery Burns of the Wild scored their 2 goals in a nice display of puck movement. 

At the end of the week, Saskatoon find themselves at the bottom of the conference with a record of 1-3-0. The goal difference of -5 is something to keep an eye on as the teams improve. 

Word count: 502
Claimed: Week ending: 9 Apr

Saskatoon Wild - A Story in the Making
 
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A city of just over 250,000 people along the South Saskatchewan River. The city that loves its hockey and can not wait to see the puck drop on the start of a new season for their home team, the Saskatoon Wild. The crowd was there, the team was dressed and there it was, the first puck drop of the new season. The Wild were hosting the Mississauga Hounds in their season opener. At the end, the difference between the two sides was apparent as the Wild lost 0-2. Wild goalie, Joseph Reed, could not be faulted as he stopped 33 shots out of 35. But the skaters just could not find the net on the other end of the ice. The crowd went home disappointed, but even in the defeat, there was a positive buzz surrounding the team.

The Wild have a young team. They did not have the chance to meet until after the draft. None of them had been on the ice together. So while trying to improve throughout the season they will also be working to come together as a team. There have not been any noted team leaders in this young season, but it is still early and hopes are high that the team will not only gel, but will be able to transfer that to gametime situations.

The second game of the season saw The Wild travel to Ottawa for their first meeting of the season against the hometown Lynx. This contest found the Wild on top at the end of the game. The final score was 1-2 with the Wild getting goals from Thijs Mooij and Darko Alexander Malkovich. While the team was disappointed to have given up the second period goal to the Lynx's Lucky Mitts to tie the game, the winning goal by Darko sealed the victory.

Saskatoon then traveled to Halifax to take on the 21st. Where the Wild were exposed in a 1-4 loss. The only Wild goal came courtesy of Tord Yvel. The Wild seemed to be confused by the tactics of the 21st and never seemed to be playing on their level. 
 
The final game of the week saw Saskatoon on the road once again as they traveled south of the border to take on the Las Vegas Aces. The Wild had traveled 4,351 km to get to Halifax with the stop in Ottawa. They then had to go another 5,384, literally from one side of North America to the other so they could get to Vegas. The Wild did not seem to show any jet-lag as they were competitive in the game but came out on the wrong side of the final score of 2-3. Montgomery Burns of the Wild scored their 2 goals in a nice display of puck movement. 

At the end of the week, Saskatoon find themselves at the bottom of the conference with a record of 1-3-0. The goal difference of -5 is something to keep an eye on as the teams improve. 

Word count: 502
Claimed: Week ending: 9 Apr

Saskatoon Wild - A Story in the Making
 
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A city of just over 250,000 people along the South Saskatchewan River. The city that loves its hockey and can not wait to see the puck drop on the start of a new season for their home team, the Saskatoon Wild. The crowd was there, the team was dressed and there it was, the first puck drop of the new season. The Wild were hosting the Mississauga Hounds in their season opener. At the end, the difference between the two sides was apparent as the Wild lost 0-2. Wild goalie, Joseph Reed, could not be faulted as he stopped 33 shots out of 35. But the skaters just could not find the net on the other end of the ice. The crowd went home disappointed, but even in the defeat, there was a positive buzz surrounding the team.

The Wild have a young team. They did not have the chance to meet until after the draft. None of them had been on the ice together. So while trying to improve throughout the season they will also be working to come together as a team. There have not been any noted team leaders in this young season, but it is still early and hopes are high that the team will not only gel, but will be able to transfer that to gametime situations.

The second game of the season saw The Wild travel to Ottawa for their first meeting of the season against the hometown Lynx. This contest found the Wild on top at the end of the game. The final score was 1-2 with the Wild getting goals from Thijs Mooij and Darko Alexander Malkovich. While the team was disappointed to have given up the second period goal to the Lynx's Lucky Mitts to tie the game, the winning goal by Darko sealed the victory.

Saskatoon then traveled to Halifax to take on the 21st. Where the Wild were exposed in a 1-4 loss. The only Wild goal came courtesy of Tord Yvel. The Wild seemed to be confused by the tactics of the 21st and never seemed to be playing on their level. 
 
The final game of the week saw Saskatoon on the road once again as they traveled south of the border to take on the Las Vegas Aces. The Wild had traveled 4,351 km to get to Halifax with the stop in Ottawa. They then had to go another 5,384, literally from one side of North America to the other so they could get to Vegas. The Wild did not seem to show any jet-lag as they were competitive in the game but came out on the wrong side of the final score of 2-3. Montgomery Burns of the Wild scored their 2 goals in a nice display of puck movement. 

At the end of the week, Saskatoon find themselves at the bottom of the conference with a record of 1-3-0. The goal difference of -5 is something to keep an eye on as the teams improve. 

Word count: 502
Claimed: Week ending: 9 Apr

Selected in the VHLM Draft

As Draft Day approached, I sat in my room at the boarding house looking at my phone. It seemed like it would never ring. I had been practicing and hitting the ice as a member of the Warriors in the Junior Showcase Tournament. But as the tournament progressed my lack of skills became glaringly apparent. I was not getting much ice time. To make matters worse, I was not making the most of the time I was being given. I only had 1 goal, 2 assists and 7 penalties. I realize that I had work to do, but the gap between me and the others appeared larger than the Grand Canyon. Every day that went by without any contact confirmed that I just wasnt at the level the VHLM Managers were looking for. There are 10 teams in the VHLM and I was not hearing anything from them. I was not sure what would happen if I was not even on any of their draft boards.

But then I got an email, a team wanted to talk to me about the upcoming draft. I answered the questions as honestly as I could, but it is always tough to gauge how these types of exchanges will develop. I knew that any team that did select me was getting a project that both of us would have to be willing to commit the time and work to so I could be an asset, and not a hinderance, to the team. I wasnt sure how things would go from there, but at least I knew there was a team interested. 

Then I got another email. I answered it as well. Yes, they had me on their draft board, another good exchange. Then there was a third, then a fourth and finally a fifth interview request. Five of the teams had me on their draft boards as the big night approached. I knew I wasnt going to be a top pick, I have too much work to do so I can be a valuable part of the team. But whoever selected me was going to get a player who wont give up.

Draft night finally arrived. I watched the first round. I saw players coming off of the board. I had seen their names, recognized them as some of the best rookies in the league, of course they would go quickly. The GMs on the draft did a great job discussing the players and the things they would bring to their teams. But still no "Otis Boudreaux, Jr" had been called. The first and second rounds were over and I was still waiting for my telephone to ring. Then it happened....my phone rang, it was the Saskatoon Wild, they wanted to take me with the first selection of the third round. I almost threw my phone against the ceiling! Then there it was, my name on the board. I had a team, a home.

So now the next chapter in my career is starting. I will be on the Wild and hope to be able to do more good than bad for the team. 

Thanks to the Manager and staff at Saskatoon for taking the chance on me, I hope I dont let you down!

1. Jumped around the room! LOL, seriously, I told my wife and Dad. My wife said "Cool", Dad said, "Ok". But yea, it is pretty cool.
2. Head to the rink! I want to get a feel for the ice and see where my home is going to be.
3. I want us to be competitive. Since we had so many draft selections we may have a youngish team. So as long as we compete, then we can build on that next season.
4. I cant really say yet. I am still evaluating the other teams. But what the hey, I will say Halifax. Otis spent part of his VHLM season there and, even though it wasnt terrible, it was a huge let-down from his experience in Houston
5. I want to get better! I see how poorly I have played in the Junior Showcase and I dont want to be a hinderance to the Wild. 
6. Carolina Hurricanes. Is it bad if I admit that I am not a hard-core fan? HAHA. But yea, they are leading their division. I think they may make a good run in the Cup. Who knows, may even win it!

So I guess this is the place to show my age, haha. After high school I spent 9 years in the USAF as a firefighter. I spent 7 of them living in Europe. Due to injuries I couldnt be a firefighter after I left the military. So I moved into law enforcement where I was the Assistant Jail Administrator for a facility with 400 inmates. I did that for 4 years, then decided I had enough of working for the government and joined corporate America as a Training Supervisor for a company that processed credit card transactions.

That company was bought out and I moved from Nashville to NC where I currently live. I switched careers again and became a high school history teacher which I retired from in Dec 2021. I wasnt ready to call it a career yet so I looked around and now work as a Learning Experience Designer for a company that uses Salesforce. Yea, I never heard of Salesforce either until I got this job...now it seems everywhere. 

Hahaha, so if you count my jobs as a teenager...been working for over 45 years. I plan on 6 more years, max. Then going to join my wife in that happy world of 100% retirement.

So I guess this is the place to show my age, haha. After high school I spent 9 years in the USAF as a firefighter. I spent 7 of them living in Europe. Due to injuries I couldnt be a firefighter after I left the military. So I moved into law enforcement where I was the Assistant Jail Administrator for a facility with 400 inmates. I did that for 4 years, then decided I had enough of working for the government and joined corporate America as a Training Supervisor for a company that processed credit card transactions.

That company was bought out and I moved from Nashville to NC where I currently live. I switched careers again and became a high school history teacher which I retired from in Dec 2021. I wasnt ready to call it a career yet so I looked around and now work as a Learning Experience Designer for a company that uses Salesforce. Yea, I never heard of Salesforce either until I got this job...now it seems everywhere. 

Hahaha, so if you count my jobs as a teenager...been working for over 45 years. I plan on 6 more years, max. Then going to join my wife in that happy world of 100% retirement.

So I guess this is the place to show my age, haha. After high school I spent 9 years in the USAF as a firefighter. I spent 7 of them living in Europe. Due to injuries I couldnt be a firefighter after I left the military. So I moved into law enforcement where I was the Assistant Jail Administrator for a facility with 400 inmates. I did that for 4 years, then decided I had enough of working for the government and joined corporate America as a Training Supervisor for a company that processed credit card transactions.

That company was bought out and I moved from Nashville to NC where I currently live. I switched careers again and became a high school history teacher which I retired from in Dec 2021. I wasnt ready to call it a career yet so I looked around and now work as a Learning Experience Designer for a company that uses Salesforce. Yea, I never heard of Salesforce either until I got this job...now it seems everywhere. 

Hahaha, so if you count my jobs as a teenager...been working for over 45 years. I plan on 6 more years, max. Then going to join my wife in that happy world of 100% retirement.

So I guess this is the place to show my age, haha. After high school I spent 9 years in the USAF as a firefighter. I spent 7 of them living in Europe. Due to injuries I couldnt be a firefighter after I left the military. So I moved into law enforcement where I was the Assistant Jail Administrator for a facility with 400 inmates. I did that for 4 years, then decided I had enough of working for the government and joined corporate America as a Training Supervisor for a company that processed credit card transactions.

That company was bought out and I moved from Nashville to NC where I currently live. I switched careers again and became a high school history teacher which I retired from in Dec 2021. I wasnt ready to call it a career yet so I looked around and now work as a Learning Experience Designer for a company that uses Salesforce. Yea, I never heard of Salesforce either until I got this job...now it seems everywhere. 

Hahaha, so if you count my jobs as a teenager...been working for over 45 years. I plan on 6 more years, max. Then going to join my wife in that happy world of 100% retirement.

I think this is awesome!! It gives me hope that things will continue to go well for me, in spite of me having to leave like I did. I am REALLY glad you are the GM of the Warriors and I thank you for so quickly offering me a spot in the Showcase Tourny. It has helped me settle in better.

Keep up the great work!

I am new to the league, even though this is my 2nd time, my first go-around wasnt very long, but I have been an owner and or gm in a couple of other sim leagues. 

I recently told a plyer that as the owner, I dont feel I have the right to just treat the players as I would in a traditional sports sim league. As was stated earlier, this is not OOTP, there are real people behind these players. So I think that is where the "management" side of things becomes even more important. 
 
I feel a way to possibly alleviate some issues is to have constant and open communication and conversations with the team as a whole and the players individually. Over my tenure in these various offices I have been forced to trade a player I wanted to keep and not-resign someone who was really an asset to the team. Part of the responsibility of being in one of these positions as an owner, GM, Asst GM, or any other front office staff, is to keep the members of the team in the clear about what decisions are being made. With that said, I am not saying that all possible roster moves be discussed in the LR. However, there should be on-going conversations with the players. As much as possible reaching out to them, checking in, and keeping them in the loop as the season evolves about possible moves.

One thing I found that worked really well when I was looking at the possibility of not being able to keep someone is to discuss it with them and suggest possible options for them and after they expressed their interest in any of the teams, I would reach out to the GM/Owner of that organization. I would gauge their interest and let them know the player was interested. At that point, I would step back and let things happen. Sometimes the player would have a new home found before FA even opened. Sometimes they didnt, but I felt it was my obligation as the Owner/GM to try to give them the best experience possible. 

The limit with doing things that way were making sure to not violate any tampering or other rules or limitations. Even if there could not be any conversations, I would at least let the player know of possible locations for them to reach out to once they became a Free Agent.

In the years I have done this, I have yet to find the Magic Sweet Spot where I was able to manage the real person's experience while trying to manage the organization to become a champion. But I found that by communicating with everyone as much as possible, it lessens any blow from what the organization just had to do.

Just my 2 cents...or maybe a nickel...this one is kinda long...

I am new to the league, even though this is my 2nd time, my first go-around wasnt very long, but I have been an owner and or gm in a couple of other sim leagues. 

I recently told a plyer that as the owner, I dont feel I have the right to just treat the players as I would in a traditional sports sim league. As was stated earlier, this is not OOTP, there are real people behind these players. So I think that is where the "management" side of things becomes even more important. 
 
I feel a way to possibly alleviate some issues is to have constant and open communication and conversations with the team as a whole and the players individually. Over my tenure in these various offices I have been forced to trade a player I wanted to keep and not-resign someone who was really an asset to the team. Part of the responsibility of being in one of these positions as an owner, GM, Asst GM, or any other front office staff, is to keep the members of the team in the clear about what decisions are being made. With that said, I am not saying that all possible roster moves be discussed in the LR. However, there should be on-going conversations with the players. As much as possible reaching out to them, checking in, and keeping them in the loop as the season evolves about possible moves.

One thing I found that worked really well when I was looking at the possibility of not being able to keep someone is to discuss it with them and suggest possible options for them and after they expressed their interest in any of the teams, I would reach out to the GM/Owner of that organization. I would gauge their interest and let them know the player was interested. At that point, I would step back and let things happen. Sometimes the player would have a new home found before FA even opened. Sometimes they didnt, but I felt it was my obligation as the Owner/GM to try to give them the best experience possible. 

The limit with doing things that way were making sure to not violate any tampering or other rules or limitations. Even if there could not be any conversations, I would at least let the player know of possible locations for them to reach out to once they became a Free Agent.

In the years I have done this, I have yet to find the Magic Sweet Spot where I was able to manage the real person's experience while trying to manage the organization to become a champion. But I found that by communicating with everyone as much as possible, it lessens any blow from what the organization just had to do.

Just my 2 cents...or maybe a nickel...this one is kinda long...

I am new to the league, even though this is my 2nd time, my first go-around wasnt very long, but I have been an owner and or gm in a couple of other sim leagues. 

I recently told a plyer that as the owner, I dont feel I have the right to just treat the players as I would in a traditional sports sim league. As was stated earlier, this is not OOTP, there are real people behind these players. So I think that is where the "management" side of things becomes even more important. 
 
I feel a way to possibly alleviate some issues is to have constant and open communication and conversations with the team as a whole and the players individually. Over my tenure in these various offices I have been forced to trade a player I wanted to keep and not-resign someone who was really an asset to the team. Part of the responsibility of being in one of these positions as an owner, GM, Asst GM, or any other front office staff, is to keep the members of the team in the clear about what decisions are being made. With that said, I am not saying that all possible roster moves be discussed in the LR. However, there should be on-going conversations with the players. As much as possible reaching out to them, checking in, and keeping them in the loop as the season evolves about possible moves.

One thing I found that worked really well when I was looking at the possibility of not being able to keep someone is to discuss it with them and suggest possible options for them and after they expressed their interest in any of the teams, I would reach out to the GM/Owner of that organization. I would gauge their interest and let them know the player was interested. At that point, I would step back and let things happen. Sometimes the player would have a new home found before FA even opened. Sometimes they didnt, but I felt it was my obligation as the Owner/GM to try to give them the best experience possible. 

The limit with doing things that way were making sure to not violate any tampering or other rules or limitations. Even if there could not be any conversations, I would at least let the player know of possible locations for them to reach out to once they became a Free Agent.

In the years I have done this, I have yet to find the Magic Sweet Spot where I was able to manage the real person's experience while trying to manage the organization to become a champion. But I found that by communicating with everyone as much as possible, it lessens any blow from what the organization just had to do.

Just my 2 cents...or maybe a nickel...this one is kinda long...