diamond_ace

Whatever I need to sign for to play in the M. Dollar amount isn't really of consequence to me. Although I'm thinking STZ might not mind having the cap hit either way

9 hours and no one commented on this

Winning is about 873rd on my priority list right now, around the level of wondering whether I'll get a peach iced tea or a raspberry iced tea for work later. I want to sit in the M for a year, see whether the comeback sticks, and if it does, maybe make a new guy. STZ and I have been talking about it since last night when I came on. Tyler, if the comeback sticks to the extent where I make a bunch of guys again, I'd definitely like to play for you at some point, but this time I'm going with STZ

1038 words. It will be two weeks' worth.

Hrdina On The Comeback Trail by Cecil Harvey, Ice Monthly -ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA Morning breaks. The sun rises on the city of Erie, cresting over the lake, and with it comes the sounds of skates scraping the ice, pucks flying into the net, and whistles being blown. Three men are out on a small local outdoor rink. One of these men, Clark Marcellin, screams commands over the sound of a whistle. "Hustle" is heard as he points to a line. VHL free agent Vaclav Hrdina lines up on the blue line, ready to perform a skating drill around a series of cones. His father, former NHL center Jan Hrdina, is out there watching his son, making sure he keeps up with the rigors of practice. He knows there's potential there; it wasn't long before when the younger Hrdina was a star studded prospect lighting up the Czech league and turning heads with the decision to declare for the VHL rather than Jan's NHL. Jan has always been supportive of Vaclav's decisions, even that which led him to try out a rival league, but he's seen his fair share of disappointment when his son hung up the boots in frustration a few seasons back. "It hasn't always been easy, watching my boy out there making rookie mistakes like he never used to make. There was a time when I thought he could, and most likely would, be better than I was. Those days are gone, but somewhere in there is the old flame that used to burn in this kid for the sport. If that can be lit, he could still make something of himself. I want to see him do it, which is why my friend Clark is on him day and night to get better." Jan's career wasn't anything too spectacular either, but he carved out a niche for himself as a faceoff specialist and 40 point guy on the Pittsburgh Penguins, before winding down his career with the then-Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils while battling hip issues. After he finished in the NHL, he had a few sporadic seasons in the Swedish league before calling it a career. He knows what it's like to have and then lose a career as a pro hockey player, which is why it hurts him to see Vaclav squander his gifts so much. Back when Vaclav was first deciding between the VHL and the NHL, Jan had plenty of connections in the NHL, so he decided it might be a good idea to try to build up relationships with a few high profile names in the VHL. He looked for a respected agency first, but then focused on trying to find a player who'd succeeded in a similar role to what his son wanted to become. He'd found a few, and the two Hrdinas went to talk to them, get a feel for what to expect in the league, but the one man who stood out the most was Clark Marcellin. Incidentally, the diamond_ace agency was one of the ones on Vaclav's shortlist, so naturally when Marcellin was willing to put in a word, that sealed the deal. Now, years later, the success story that was Marcellin, having long since retired, has been trying to bring his young protege back into the fold. "I really thought highly of Hrdina when he first wanted to join. He had all the makings of a superstar, except apparently the drive to actually become one. I took him under my wing when he first came into the league, but when he stopped showing up to practice, he also stopped calling me for advice and drills. At that point, it just spiraled out of control for him. It was no surprise when he inevitably dropped out of the league and no team was willing to sign him. You have to have a guy who is at least willing to go to practice, to try to get better. Vaclav had lost that somewhere. From what I've seen so far, he might have found it again, but then again he was never really expected to lose it in the first place. The jury is still out on whether he earns another shot, but my early prognosis is good. I mean he came out here to train with me at five in the morning, there had to be at least some drive there." Marcellin was highly decorated when he was in the VHL, so if he sees something different about this young man now than before, it's a good bet he's right. Marcellin found a home in Erie after his playing career, as he decided he wanted a location that was relatively near a few VHL teams (Toronto Legion, New York Americans, Quebec City Meute) now that he was training players. He travels to team facilities if it's a player under contract, but if he's working with a free agent, he'll invite them to stay in his guest house for their time spent with him so as to save himself the expenses. After three hours of morning skating and passing drills, the three stopped at a nearby coffee shop for breakfast and to warm up before heading back out. Post-breakfast training saw Vaclav try to best his old man at faceoffs, which used to be Jan's specialty. Marcellin would call out an area - left of the dot, straight back, or right of the dot - and Vaclav would try to win the faceoff and direct the puck in the specified direction. As the day wore on, he seemed to improve somewhat, although he'd still lose the occasional one to the former centerman. It's a long hard road ahead for a kid who hasn't played competitive hockey in a few seasons. He'll have to compete against guys who never took a week off, much less the amount of time he's spent sitting on the couch. Nonetheless, there's no question the talent is there, and the potential to go with it. That's never been in doubt. The question is whether the work ethic is there to convert that potential into more talent and a spot in the league he once left. So far, he's off to a good start.

This is amazing! I'm a bit more inclined to think I can make a decent comeback now, at least to a few hundred with Hrdina and then we'll see

I don't see us doing much with Pedan, but to be fair, I don't think we were doing much with Pouliot either. I'll take the pick.

Or might not. I specifically don't want to make one until I know whether I'm sticking. I refuse to become scotty. If I know I'm sticking, I'll make one eventually

I had 3 players who were in the 900s in TPE from S20 through somewhere in the mid-40s (defensive d Lars Intranquilo, center Clark Marcellin, and goalie Martin Brookside). Created Kerkko Hyvarinen as my fourth guy, had kind of already felt my interest dying a bit at that point so I made my favorite type of guy (defensive d) to try to spark the interest again, he ended in the mid 400s, and then I made Hrdina on a whim a few seasons ago (center, ideally would like to go kind of two way with him) and barely added anything other than recreate points. If I can recreate the spark, I can be good, but that's an awfully big if. At this point I'll be happy if I keep interest enough to make Hrdina a decent VHLM career, then we'll see where we go from there.

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Found him, free agents

Vaclav Hrdina, VHL and VHLM free agent center, has been out of the league for some time. His father, former NHLer Jan Hrdina, has allowed Vaclav to live in his guest house rent-free for a few months, expecting that at some point, he'd get the motivation to start playing hockey again. Vaclav slowly settled into a life of no real responsibilities, living off his first VHLM deal and his father's leftover NHL money, but it has finally gotten bad enough that Jan left him with an ultimatum: either get working on getting back into the sport or find a day job. An agreement has been reached, and Jan was more than willing to pay for private classes with former VHLer Clark Marcellin, in order to get Vaclav's career back on its feet. Marcellin, famously, was one of the best players to have ever competed under the diamond_ace agency (it's arguable whether Marcellin was better or goalie Martin Brookside, but surely both outclassed defenseman Lars Intranquilo). The diamond_ace agency, formerly one of some renown within the VHL, has fallen off the map entirely in seasons past. To be honest, it's somewhat of a surprise that Hrdina has kept his agent if he intends a return, but he has, and hopefully some shine can return to the dusty old trophy room.

This most likely won't amount to anything, but where is Hrdina floating around these days? Or is he retired

I have a player: Vaclav Hrdina, the great Czech bust, who in no way has followed in the footsteps of his successful NHL father, Jan Hrdina.

Jardy: Messi was Hillsy.

King of All S23

Yep @Higgins first guy and Jericho's first guy (he must be going by something different right now). Higgins was a third rounder (VHLM draft) and 8th overall VHL draft, then went on to be one of only two HOF in his draft class with LEEROOOOOY JENKINNNNNSSS. Braxton was a year later and the only HOF in his class (although Lebedev was close-ish).

Yeah just so @hedgehog337 is aware, when I was GM of the Ottawa VHLM team, they were called the Ice Dogs. They got changed because the logo was stolen from a minor league team or something ALSO: Super impressed at the state of the VHLM since then, if I'm out of the top 5. Great job keeping it going. @CoachReilly better be #1

Teodors Blugers

Christmas/Hanukkah/Bodhi Day/Saturnalia/Yule/Jol/Feast of St Nicholas/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice/Chaomos/Santo Tomas/Natalis Invicti/Festivus

In other news, for me the answer will always be Royal Pains. Interesting twist on the doctor show concept and it never really feels like a doctor show because it gets into the lives and motivations behind even the weekly characters, let alone the regulars. The transformation of Evan, as well as the way his relationship with Hank changes due to that, is just fantastic.

Since you mentioned Longmire, I feel obligated to point out that I know an associate producer of Longmire. She went to high school with me

Missed the playoffs by one game. Lost in week 1 by 0.9 points. Won the same league last year. Turner is in it and he's in the finals, Smitty is also in it and missed the playoffs.

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Zach Voss... haven't seen that name in ages