Derrico

As I asked up thread, what signing or trade happened for a D that you wanted us in on?

Well sure. But it's not like teams are lining up to give away defense. Scandella has some flaws but it was a phenomenal trade last year. To expect that two years in a row in unrealistic IMO. What deals have been made (trade or signing) do you wish we would have done?

I looked up the previous winners of the SHL Defenseman of the year (Salming Trophy) and it goes back 10 years. There have been 2 other players who won it at a similar or younger age: David Runblad was 20/21 when he won it in 2010/2011. He's been an AHL/NHL Tweener bouncing around the league a bit. Mittias Ekholm was 21 when he won it in 2011/2012. He's been an excellent NHLer. I'm certainly not expecting an Ekholm type career here but there is some potential here. I remember at the time of signing there were rumors of several other teams looking to sign him. Reports from Paul Hamilton back in June are that he will start the year in the AHL but I could see a situation where he is called up around thanksgiving and takes a permanent spot. Let's just hope Beaulieu doesn't kill this team in the standings before then....

This. I really think he's going to be a good one. It's a matter of will it be straight out of training camp or January. SHL is probably the third best league in the world and he was named the best defender in the entire league as 21/22 year old.

Really?? I guess Wendall Clark was drafted as a d and moved up to forward.

Did Phil Housley play third pairing minutes the first half of his rookie year? Being serious, this was before my time.

Phenomenal. 'Hustle, what does that mean?'

Jesus True. I can handle Randall being so negative but I can't have you in the dark place. I just can't......

@Eleven - We also have 12 in our league right now. It's fun but it also leads to a very shallow free agency. If others are ok with it we could start the two newbies in the relegation league. For instance if you end up with say 8, we could start Taro and jsb there and have two leagues of 10? I guess it depends on how many you have.

@SwampD and @jeffismagic You guys both expressed interest in joining last year. You guys want in the new league?

Poor @dEnnis the Menace came in last so he got the boot. Are you interested in playing Dennis? @Briere48 and @ExWNYer have also asked to join. There is more room now in Sabrespace Fantasy Football for those who also would like to join.

@JujuFish - I think you have to stay in the league. No choice man. You're a dynasty. Your the Bill Bilichick of our league. I'm sure when the September days get shorter and the football season is ramping up you will be full go ;) Ok @Eleven, I think we should have enough for a Winner's and 'Relegation' League. Ours is now full. I had you, SDS and gilbert on the wait list but there have been more since then. Did you want to set that up? Shall we keep the leagues fairly close in terms of points etc. so we can continue on the 'Winners' and 'Relegation Leagues'? As had been discussed, the top 2 teams in the finals from the Relegation will move up to the Winners. Likewise, the bottom 2 in the winners will fall down for the next season.

@jsb - you were next on the wait list. Do you want in?

Sure can.

Ya seriously JuJu. You need to be in this thing after being in the finals all 4 straight years. But unlike the Bills you actually won it 3 times........ Waitin on you too @Thorny

I was never good at following directions :) Edit - Ask my wife ha.

NS, I like you but man, you can **** off with that nonsense! How can they win the draft lottery and have the cup parade already drawn up in the same season??

Wldnwoody, Ink and Hank are in. @TrueBlueGED and @Thorny we're waiting on you guys. @JujuFish have you decided if you want in or not? Looking to try and figure out numbers now if possible.

Isn't that what you lawyers do all the time :) That's the most optimistic take you've had in months.... Ok, that's better ;)

Thanks SDS. I like the feature. I used PM's but this way is easier.

Alright, let's organize these two leagues so we can figure out when to have the draft etc. This will also let us know if there is enough people to start the second league. I know we're a ways out but before you know it it'll be September. In the Original Winners league we have confirmed: North Buffalo, Narco, Taro, pi and Wildcard. To the following, can you please confirm if you are in again for Fantasy Football: TrueBlue, Wldnwoody, Ink, Thorny, Hank and JuJuFish.

Ya, I love the club idea. But to first organize, I'll make another post in the main board.

Dahlin is big but I'm also really high on what pilot will bring. I know he's a 'rookie' but isn't he like 22 or 23. No reason he has to start in roch if he impresses in camp. That can lead to more reasonable minutes for Risto. Guhle is knocking on the door. Yes he took a bit of a step back late in the year but there were times he looked pretty damn good imo. Hes at an age where it shouldn't come as a shock if he's a regular and takes the next step.

Oh God I hope not.....will be an interesting training camp. I agree to a certain extent. But I also think our D being much improved will contribute to offense. Be that getting the pucks to forwards in stride, keeping possession out of our end and even contributing more than the almost nothing we got last year.

I do get it. I've been fooled before also. But instead of adding those guys which were low end signings (I believe those threads still had us recognize it as depth signings) we're talking a 1st overall and 8th overall pick. Plus another pick who is a late round but put up huge numbers in the SHL. I just feel like we have more than snake oil this time. Could easily blow up and it's not the case but I'm still much more excited about this coming season than some of the previous few years.