Post by Nemits - Former Minnesota GM on Jan 2, 2011 15:47:08 GMT -5
Well here I am, it's been a LONG TIME since I last did any kind of show, but I figure I'll get it started again, a little bit anyways.
Don't except a ton of shows, but maybe a couple here and there.
Anyways, to kick off the restart, I sat down with three of our leagues more colourful characters, Jackets, Pens and Oilers.
I asked the Penguins and the Oilers a couple questions regarding their own teams, but mostly asked them questions involving the league as a whole, so lets see what they had to say.
Penguins Questions:
1. You overcame impossible odds last season in your series against the power house New Jersey Devils, what was the biggest factor in that series turn around?
Just pure momentum. We scored a couple crucial victories which really lit a fire under the guys in that room, and before you knew it we were on our way. And of course, what can you say about Sidney, he was in a whole other zone it seemed, just a level up on every other player on the ice. It was like watching a man play against boys out there, he just ran the show.
2. You traded long time net minder Marc-Andre Fleury this off season for Ryan Miller, why did you deem the changed necessary?
We'd actually made numerous attempts to acquire Ryan back when he was a member of the Kings, as we truly believe he was the only upgrade we could get on Marc-Andre. Flower did some great things here, but in all honesty, when it was crunch time, he wasn't always around to deliver. If you look back to our Cup win in Season 10, he struggled mightily against an inferior opponent in Montreal in round 2, so we took him out in favour of Chris Mason, and we went all the way to the Cup after that. We need a goalie who can deliver every night no matter what circumstances may arise, and we believe Ryan is that man.
Ryan Miller hasn't made it out of the first round since the change in games, what makes you think he'll be able to do it as a member of the Penguins?
He’s definitely due for a breakthrough, and in our opinion, he has a stronger team around him now, along with a solid young netminder in Sergei Bobrovsky to push him and keep him on his toes.
Oilers Questions:
1. I won't call it a saga or a drama filled adventure, but do you think Gaborik will ever be moved?
It's possible, anyone who has been here since I first got here in Season Two knows how difficult it is to trade with me. It's difficult to get depth players from me at times so getting a guy who scored 54 goals two seasons ago and was top five again last year will be extremely difficult. Wynne and I were negotiating for a very long time but couldn't agree to terms so nothing ever happened. My dislike of legends has also come into play as I've gotten some very good offers but won't move Gaborik for a legend. As of right now it looks like Gabby will be staying unless someone blows me away with an offer.
Haha I agree that you can be difficult to trade with.
2. What do you think your team is missing to put it over the edge?
I'd have to go with defense. My forwards (although not the highest rated guys besides the top line) have always put up good numbers and Nabokov has been relatively good for me but my defense both on paper and on ice is underwhelming. I'm hoping to upgrade through auctions.
Questions for all 3 GMs:
1. Who goes #1 overall in this years draft?
Colorado currently hold the first overall pick and I don't think he shows up to the draft so I'm going to go with Jagr.
Jagr or Burrows. Go figure, one of our castoffs going as a top pick...
Jaromir Jagr
2. Which team do you think is going to come out of nowhere this season and be a real contender? Who's the biggest disappointed?
Biggest disappointment will be Tampa/Philly. Both have excellent teams on paper but never seem to be able to do well. In the west The team that comes out of nowhere this season will be St. Louis. He doesn't have the greatest team on paper and I really don't know why I think it will be him but I just do. Although to be fair I consider any team in the playoffs to be a contender.
I think Washington could surprise some people in the Southeast. I'm a big fan of some of the moves they've made, and they have a decent core to build around. [Biggest Disappointment is] Phoenix, as usual. He traded his 1st next year, and will regret it, just like the last time
Capitals - I think will come out of now where. Picking Hall and Langenbrunner for Hossa was a great Trade
Flyers - He just can't get any chemistry. To have to fight to make the playoffs with that team is crazy.
3. Season 15 Stanly Cup finalists are ___?
I'd love it to be the Pittsburgh Penguins and myself. I've made the SCF once before and it was against Pens. I'd love a rematch. However I don't see my team making it that far unless I can get better defensively. So with that said, I'm going to say the Penguins and the Blue Jackets. Battle of the admins.
Us, and whatever team we beat in the final. [Yes but who will come out of the West?] Perhaps the Oilers for a Season 10 rematch? I like the additions they’ve made, and as we all, Gaborik can eat another team’s defense alive when he wants to.
New Jersey VS Columbus (But we never know in the West)
4. Stanly Cup Champions?
Jackets.
See Above
Columbus (Going with the west as I don't see NJD finishing)
5. Presidents Trophy?
The New Jersey Devils.
Hopefully not us, we're not interested in a 1st round loss
New Jersey
6. Who wins the Art Ross, Norris, Vezina, Rocket Richard and Hart?
Art Ross - Pavel Bure (Unless Jersey trades him)
Norris - Larry Murphy
Vezina - Martin Brodeur
Rocket Richard - Marian Gaborik (He returns to from with new line mates Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla)
Hart - Pavel Bure (Again, unless Jersey trades him)
Art Ross/Rocket Richard/Hart - Sidney Crosby
Norris - Drew Doughty, like he should've done two seasons ago
Vezina - Ryan [Miller] will come through and win the Vezina. Yeah, I'm the Pittsburgh GM.
Art Ross- Depends who Jersey puts on his top line. Otherwise- Crosby
Norris- Souray- The changes I made were to get him more ice time
Vezina-Loungo
Rocket- See Art Ross-Otherwise Crosby
Hart- Again See Art Ross- Otherwise Crosby
Thanks for doing these questions, and good luck in the upcoming season.
Yeah, I hope you do shit though, since you're in my division.
Thanks to those 3 for doing the interview.
Don't except a ton of shows, but maybe a couple here and there.
Anyways, to kick off the restart, I sat down with three of our leagues more colourful characters, Jackets, Pens and Oilers.
I asked the Penguins and the Oilers a couple questions regarding their own teams, but mostly asked them questions involving the league as a whole, so lets see what they had to say.
Penguins Questions:
1. You overcame impossible odds last season in your series against the power house New Jersey Devils, what was the biggest factor in that series turn around?
Just pure momentum. We scored a couple crucial victories which really lit a fire under the guys in that room, and before you knew it we were on our way. And of course, what can you say about Sidney, he was in a whole other zone it seemed, just a level up on every other player on the ice. It was like watching a man play against boys out there, he just ran the show.
2. You traded long time net minder Marc-Andre Fleury this off season for Ryan Miller, why did you deem the changed necessary?
We'd actually made numerous attempts to acquire Ryan back when he was a member of the Kings, as we truly believe he was the only upgrade we could get on Marc-Andre. Flower did some great things here, but in all honesty, when it was crunch time, he wasn't always around to deliver. If you look back to our Cup win in Season 10, he struggled mightily against an inferior opponent in Montreal in round 2, so we took him out in favour of Chris Mason, and we went all the way to the Cup after that. We need a goalie who can deliver every night no matter what circumstances may arise, and we believe Ryan is that man.
Ryan Miller hasn't made it out of the first round since the change in games, what makes you think he'll be able to do it as a member of the Penguins?
He’s definitely due for a breakthrough, and in our opinion, he has a stronger team around him now, along with a solid young netminder in Sergei Bobrovsky to push him and keep him on his toes.
Oilers Questions:
1. I won't call it a saga or a drama filled adventure, but do you think Gaborik will ever be moved?
It's possible, anyone who has been here since I first got here in Season Two knows how difficult it is to trade with me. It's difficult to get depth players from me at times so getting a guy who scored 54 goals two seasons ago and was top five again last year will be extremely difficult. Wynne and I were negotiating for a very long time but couldn't agree to terms so nothing ever happened. My dislike of legends has also come into play as I've gotten some very good offers but won't move Gaborik for a legend. As of right now it looks like Gabby will be staying unless someone blows me away with an offer.
Haha I agree that you can be difficult to trade with.
2. What do you think your team is missing to put it over the edge?
I'd have to go with defense. My forwards (although not the highest rated guys besides the top line) have always put up good numbers and Nabokov has been relatively good for me but my defense both on paper and on ice is underwhelming. I'm hoping to upgrade through auctions.
Questions for all 3 GMs:
1. Who goes #1 overall in this years draft?
Colorado currently hold the first overall pick and I don't think he shows up to the draft so I'm going to go with Jagr.
Jagr or Burrows. Go figure, one of our castoffs going as a top pick...
Jaromir Jagr
2. Which team do you think is going to come out of nowhere this season and be a real contender? Who's the biggest disappointed?
Biggest disappointment will be Tampa/Philly. Both have excellent teams on paper but never seem to be able to do well. In the west The team that comes out of nowhere this season will be St. Louis. He doesn't have the greatest team on paper and I really don't know why I think it will be him but I just do. Although to be fair I consider any team in the playoffs to be a contender.
I think Washington could surprise some people in the Southeast. I'm a big fan of some of the moves they've made, and they have a decent core to build around. [Biggest Disappointment is] Phoenix, as usual. He traded his 1st next year, and will regret it, just like the last time
Capitals - I think will come out of now where. Picking Hall and Langenbrunner for Hossa was a great Trade
Flyers - He just can't get any chemistry. To have to fight to make the playoffs with that team is crazy.
3. Season 15 Stanly Cup finalists are ___?
I'd love it to be the Pittsburgh Penguins and myself. I've made the SCF once before and it was against Pens. I'd love a rematch. However I don't see my team making it that far unless I can get better defensively. So with that said, I'm going to say the Penguins and the Blue Jackets. Battle of the admins.
Us, and whatever team we beat in the final. [Yes but who will come out of the West?] Perhaps the Oilers for a Season 10 rematch? I like the additions they’ve made, and as we all, Gaborik can eat another team’s defense alive when he wants to.
New Jersey VS Columbus (But we never know in the West)
4. Stanly Cup Champions?
Jackets.
See Above
Columbus (Going with the west as I don't see NJD finishing)
5. Presidents Trophy?
The New Jersey Devils.
Hopefully not us, we're not interested in a 1st round loss
New Jersey
6. Who wins the Art Ross, Norris, Vezina, Rocket Richard and Hart?
Art Ross - Pavel Bure (Unless Jersey trades him)
Norris - Larry Murphy
Vezina - Martin Brodeur
Rocket Richard - Marian Gaborik (He returns to from with new line mates Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla)
Hart - Pavel Bure (Again, unless Jersey trades him)
Art Ross/Rocket Richard/Hart - Sidney Crosby
Norris - Drew Doughty, like he should've done two seasons ago
Vezina - Ryan [Miller] will come through and win the Vezina. Yeah, I'm the Pittsburgh GM.
Art Ross- Depends who Jersey puts on his top line. Otherwise- Crosby
Norris- Souray- The changes I made were to get him more ice time
Vezina-Loungo
Rocket- See Art Ross-Otherwise Crosby
Hart- Again See Art Ross- Otherwise Crosby
Thanks for doing these questions, and good luck in the upcoming season.
Yeah, I hope you do shit though, since you're in my division.
Thanks to those 3 for doing the interview.