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angryjay93

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Everything posted by angryjay93

  1. Tru, I would suggest getting a U.S. Passport Card as it is a cheaper option then getting a full passport. This would only work if you took a bus, car or some other sort of land transportation. If you plan on flying you will NEED a full passport. The issue from my recent experience is not getting into Canada as they are typically fairly relaxed about Americans coming in.Getting back to America is the real bugger as they are the ones demanding a Passport Card or Full Passport to re-enter.
  2. Eh, its probably not a big deal anyways if Plabax stays home. Chances are hes not gonna win the tourney and I wouldnt be surprised if he got bopped in qualifiers.
  3. No, these write ups are not directly applicable to SNES but there a couple of good rules of thumb to go by when translating to SNES use. In my original posts if I said a guy was heavy and skilled it means hes difficult to use in GENS but probably a fine choice as a Center or Defender in SNES. If a guy is light and skilled then they probably have some flexibility in SNES and can be placed in a spot where their speed and particular skills suit them best. If a guy is light but unskilled, then he probably wont deserve much run for SNES lineups despite being a option in GENS. With the CB notes I think it brings things closer to SNES but there are still some issues such as heavier guys in GENS now have checking power but they will still drop to a light weight player who connects with a hit. In SNES the heavier guys don't need to be concerned as much with the lighter guys unless they have a full head of steam. The light and unskilled players get hurt the most in GENS and are now more closely related to their SNES brethren than before.
  4. CB Options Forwards Dino Ciccarelli: If it wasn't decided before then it has probably been decided now that Ciccarelli play second fiddle over on the wing to Yzerman. Not much changes here, Dino can still use his skating in the less crowded areas in the ice and use his deadly combo of shooting and passing to keep defenses honest and buy him some space he may not otherwise be afforded on other teams. Steve Yzerman: Stevie Y remains a baller and a shot caller for the Red Wings as his sublime skating will help him avoid any prospective body checkers whether it be of the weigh bug or CB variety. Yzerman can still take advantage of any heavyweights with his own checking prowess and remains an amazing two way force. Sergei Fedorov: It was already incredibly difficult making the Drake for Fedorov swap and now it seems it is impossible to make as Fedorov can now strike back against the lightweights that have plagued him for so long. Fedorov's superior skill should allow him to win any battles of attrition against any weight bug focused teams looking to grind Fedorov down. Dallas Drake & Slave Kozlov: Both are pure weight bug options who have even less need to be iced for Detroit now that Sergei's defensive game has been upgraded. They can still abuse most of the league physically but don't have the skating needed to maintain puck possession. Paul Ysebaert: Where Ysebaert really benefits is in the GDL as he can now fight back against any lightweights in his sights. While unable to crack the Red Wings lineup he could be a useful super sub. John Ogrodnick: 9 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/4 shot, 3/3 sth and pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: L If for whatever reason the Red Wings need a CB foward they have a reasonable option in Ogrodnick with his modest skill set. While he has no business starting, he could be an effective mop up man in reserve trying to keep up with a slower lightweight player such as Nelson Emerson. Bob Probert: 11 weight, 4/3 skating, 3/2 shot, 2 sth, 3 pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: L If the Red Wings want to sell out for a CB option then they have Bob Probert available in attempt to keep up in the arms race. He will likely stay underground for the Wings as they have far too many skilled options on hand to bother trying to drag Probert up and down the ice with them. In the GDL draft he merits some consideration as he could be a viable bench peace to form a platoon with an unskilled weight bugger. Defense Nick Lidstrom, Yves Racine, Mark Howe, Vlad Konstantinov: These similarly rated defenders are all affected in a similar way in that they are now physically accessible to speedy heavyweight forwards. Most importantly, all of these guys will maintain their defensive weight bug status and create issues for larger players endeavoring into the offensive zone. Paul Coffey: Nobody on the roster benefits more from CB than Coffey as he now has the ability to lay waste too many of the smaller forwards in the league if his skating can be harnessed. There in lies the rub, if Coffey whiffs on his body check then Detorit can be exposed on the back line as odd man rushes are likely to ensue. Some discretion is warranted for Coffey on offense as he is still susceptible to be bodied by the majority of players, using him intelligently will have the opposing defense throwing fits. Steve Chiasson: 9 weight, 4/3 skating, 4/1 shot, 4 sth, 3 pass, 4/4 aware, Shoots: L Coffey may have a bit too much gusto for some of the coaches on the site and there's nothing wrong with that as Chiasson can step into the CB void and do an admirable job. While not quite as skilled as Daves Ellet and Manson, Chiasson still has a plus skill set that will allow him to blend in seamlessly with his talented teammates. Bottom Line It's a little scary that the Wings have improved with the CB check as they were already among the best teams in the league. They are the epitome of a light team that is largely immune to the CB check hurting them yet benefiting greatly by now being able to incorporate their bigger and more talented defenders with greater freedom.
  5. CB Notes Forwards Evgeny Davydov: Regardless of the CB implications, Davydov is essentially a must start player because aside from Selanne, he is the only forward on the roster with 4 speed. Evegeny will likely have a tougher time getting close to the net which may put more pressure on Selanne and Housley to carry the load in the puck handling department. Teemu Selanne: Maintaining his place in the argument as a top 5 player in the game, Teemu probably actually benefits a tiny bit from the CB check despite only having 6 weight. With his elite skating, Selanne is primed to knock some of the super light weights such as Fleury and Roenick around as that 6 speed will allow him to knock his foe around from a greater distance than the average player.This previously mentioned elite skating will also aid Selanne in dancing around the bigger defenders in the league and keep him from getting too banged up. Selanne is still the heart of this squad, if not perhaps relied upon more. Luciano Borsato and Stu Barnes: This pair of weight buggers have likely seen their best days go by as they will look like raw meat to a larger player with a big CB check on his mind. Neither has the requisite offensive talent to warrant being torn to pieces for the majority of the game. Alexei Zhamnov and Thomas Steen: With most of the Jets forwards dealing with downgrades in effectiveness, icing one of this slick passing duo almost becomes compulsory. The trick is getting one of these agile middleweights to mesh with the frantic style of Selanne which is never an easy job. Mike Eagles: 7 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/2 shot, 2 sth and pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L Eagles has some flex in Blitz league due to his 5 checking allowing him to bully players within his weight class. Under classic rules, Eagles would only merit consideration if Steen and Zhamnov are both unavailable since those two are superior checkers when their advantage in agility is considered. Keith Tkachuk: 10 weight, 3/2 skating, 4/3 shot, 2/2 sth and pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R Our first true CB checker is a bit underwhelming but he may just have a place on the wing as an opportunistic scorer. The speed is a major issue, especially on the wing but the Jets don't really require their wingers to be much in the way of puck carriers. If Tkachuk can swoop in and clean up some of the trash created by Housley or Selanne then he may be able to justify his spot in the lineup. I cant endorse him fully but it would seem worthwhile to experiment with him before letting him rot on the bench. Kris King: 10 weight, 3/3 speed, 2/2 shot, 2/2 sth and pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L The fastest of the three Kings in the game, Kris King is a bit more mobile option than Tkachuk and seems to be the inverse of Barnes on the Jets bench. There likely wont too be many instances where icing King will be optimal, but it is something worth keeping in the back of ones mind. Defense Teppo Numminen: Discretion is sometimes the better part of valor. While Numminen has some new found checking ability against anyone with 5 weight or less it would probably be best to continue to play a passive poke check game with Teppo as Housley may not be back from his offensive excursions to help support. Phil Housley: Housley should be able to minimize the effect of any prospective CB checkers honing in on him with his fantastic skating. Defensively, Housley will be much of the same story unless the opposing team ices some heavyweights which Housley should be able to pick off with regularity. Sergei Bautin: Many of the previous weight bug options around the league have lost a lot of their luster due to a lack of skill. Bautin doesn't fall into that group as he is plenty skilled to be an above average #3 defender who makes the occasional start. Just keep an eye on those big fast heavyweights such as Esa Tikkanen and move the puck to Housley or Selanne before its too late. Fredrik Olausson: Unlike Eagles, Olausson actually picks up a little bit of checking power as his pathetic 1 check rating doesn't hurt his ability to CB check. The extra offensive talent and CB check versatility could allow Olausson to sneak into the line up over Housley. New D-Pair: Housley-Olausson If it's critical to have a CB checker on the ice then Olausson is probably the preferred option over any of the forwards previously mentioned. Freddy will be on his natural right side and will be able to use his skill set to its fullest potential. Numminen's weight is much closer to Housley and he isn't quite as skilled as Olausson. Over time this could become the preferred Jets pairing in the community. Bottom Line Winnipeg has always had a bunch of chemistry issues within their forward ranks and none of them have been alleviated. The defense has improved slightly which should help them when goals are at a premium. Winnipeg continues to sit outside the upper echelon of teams and it is up to the user at hand to get the most out of the Selanne and Housley duo.
  6. Just wanted to help you out here bud, when I say 4/3 skating for a guy like Lindros, I'm inputting the agility first and then the speed. So 4 agility and 3 speed is what Lindros has to work with and the rest of what your saying is spot on. He doesn't have the C-B check range of a guy like Tikkanen, but there are more guys that Lindros can do damage too. There is also one more thing to consider with guys like Lindros and more so Kjell Samuelsson or Marty Mcsorely is that they can be so heavy it becomes a bit of overkill. Its overkill trying to nail Joe Sakic with Lindros because only an 8 weight rating is needed to CB Sakic. At 12 weight Lindros doesn't have anywhere near the mobility of a 9 weight Brind'Amour despite sharing the same exact skating skills. It is very important to consider just how much versatility should be sacrificed for a little extra physical play.
  7. CB Notes Forwards Craig Simpson: Despite gaining some utility in the defensive department Simpson is probably best employed as a LW due to the fact that Klima is just too good of a C to move out of that spot. His style will remain largely the same regardless of the new developments. Petr Klima: Klima retains his all league status as a 1 on 1 option and will continue to be the focus of the Oiler game plan. A bit more caution should be used when trying to slice through heavier opponents as they now have some recourse against Klima. On defense Klima can use his plus skating to track down the likes of Pavel Bure and Jeremy Roenick with a C-B check. Kevin Todd: Already a pretty fringe type player, Todd hasn't been done any favors with the CB check. The only reason Todd remains employable on the wing is due to the fact that he brings some checking diversity to the Oilers. In games against heavy teams Todd can still run around and wreak some havoc. He will run into issues on offense when trying to lug the puck up the ice. Zdeno Ciger, Todd Elik, and Doug Weight: These modestly rated middleweights wont experience too much change in their performance, not that it was anything to rave about before. Shayne Corson: While Corson has evolved from mere afterthought to a competent grinder, he still has no obvious position in which to plug him in. His shooting excludes him from the center discussion and he isn't enough of a distributor to be a great winger. One option is to just let Klima take care of the offense completely and deploy Corson and Todd on each wing as a pair of guys just looking to make the opposition miserable. Defense Dave Manson and Igor Kravchuk: The two stalwarts pick up some extra hitting power, especially Manson with his 4 speed. He should be the more apt of the two at getting his hands on the speedy forwards in the league. Brian Glynn: If a little diversity on the back line is warranted then Glynn is a solid enough choice with his 11 weight and average skating. Removing Kravchuk against one of the star 9 weight forwards may prove beneficial as the Oilers have no weight bug options in which to attack such a forward. The puck skills are a little concerning but Glynn should still be plenty useful. Chris Joseph and Geoff Smith: Each are still useful in their own right, but are still merely PK or injury sub options due to having a similar weight to the starters. Luke Richardson: 11 weight, 3/3 speed, 2/0 shot, 3 sth and pass, 1/3 aware, Shoots:L Built in the same mold as Glynn, Richardson trades in shooting for some extra puck moving skills. With both options being left handed, it is merely user preference as to who to ice as the team bruiser. Bottom Line Sure, Edmonton has picked up a little utility as they now have the ability to put an 11 weight defender on the ice and plug Corson in on the wing to improve the team speed. These adjustments don't really change anything regarding the Oilers ability to compete. The team still relies solely on Klima for its offense and he is still more than capable of providing it.
  8. I would agree with portions with this assessment if talking about an overzealous opponent. Against a resourceful defensive opponent I think it would be important to keep these two items in mind when using a guy such as Gilmour. 1. Checking in at a meager 4 weight, Gilmour is C-B check accessible to any player with 6+ weight. There are a lot of players in the league who meet that requirement and have superior if not comparable skating to Gilmour. A guy like Fedorov with the same skating attributes as Gilmour isn't hurt as much by the CB check because he has 7 weight. It would take a 9+ weight player to bring down Fedorov with a C-B check and there are far fewer guys in the league with that weight who can keep up with Fedorov. 2. I'm a strong proponent of the poke check, but C checking and C-B checking have their use. For example: Pre C-B check: Teemu Selanne checks in at 6 weight would have limited options marking Gilmour. Selanne would have to wait for Gilmour to come into poke check range or use his regular skating speed to approach Gilmour and work the poke. Post C-B check: If Selanne has an angle to access Gilmour he can go about doing it with a C-B check. At 6 speed Selanne can really press the issue with his elongated speed burst and knock Gilmour out of the play before he can make an adjustment. If nothing else Selanne can still sit back or approach Gilmour cautiously to employ a poke check. By having options the player controlling Selanne can start to work a meta game against Gilmour and leave him guessing at what to do.
  9. C-B Notes Forwards Philly will still rely strongly on their tenacity to pressure the opponent into mistakes. By throwing an improved Lindros into the fray, the Flyers can be a tougher team to defend in transition and offensive zone cycles. New Line Combo: Eklund-Lindros-Recchi Eric Lindros: The Big E has transformed himself into a C-B checking monster...possibly almost too much so. At 12 weight Lindros can really lay the smack down and his 4 agility will allow him to do some more damage than possibly expected. Offensively he will still have a tough time getting things rolling but he may now be better suited to man the middle of the ice then he was previously. Philly has the puck carriers on the wing needed to have Lindros be a major one-time threat in the slot. Mark Recchi: Thankfully for players who employ a 1 man show type of strategy, Recchi still has enough versatility to man the middle and do plenty of damage. One-timer and puck possession type players are also heaping praise on Recchi as he is a fantastic option on the wing where can dish the puck off to a revitalized Lindros. Pelle Eklund: Regardless of his small stature, Eklund is still a critical weight bug player for the Flyers as his skill set is perfectly suited on the wing where he can use his slick skating in the open space to help avoid the more physically capable players in the league. Being aggressive will still be the key to unlocking Eklunds full potential as there may be more guys he can body with a vicious check. Kevin Dineen: The big loser among the forwards is likely Dineen as he now loses his one main advantage of being able to skate around the poke checks of slower and heavier defenseman. Dineen does not have the skills when he has the puck to make up for the fact that he is now more vulnerable. Lindros and to even some extent Brind'Amour now have reason to claim higher spots on the depth chart due to their new found versatility and skill set superiority. Rob Brind'Amour: For many years Rod never had a spot in the Philly lineup due to a lack of skating and the fact that most everyone else on the team did something far better than he could. That time is over as The Bod can now be a bit of a compromise between Recchi and Lindros in the middle. Brind'Amour is a better deke option and doesn't come with the hefty price tag of Lindros in the weight department. This extra bit of mobility and check resistance to players in the 8-10 weight range can prove to be quite the boon for the Flyers. Brind'Amour can also be pressed into wing duties provided that Lindros is on the bench as two 3 speed forwards paired with a slow blue line could be too much to overcome. Andrei Lomakin: Not too much changes here, Lomakin is still a heady offensive player who provides good depth if injuries or penalties arise. Keith Acton: Aside from being a part of an all weight bug line, Acton has essentially lost all viability as he is too slow and unskilled to truly take advantage of his opponent. Defense Dmitri Yushkevich and Greg Hawgood: No big changes for this duo as whatever advantage they gain against lighter players is given right back to the heavier players they will be up against. There are even fewer reasons to use either of these players as leaders in an offensive charge. Gord Hynes: Still a beast without the puck but even more of a kitten with it. Attempt to move the puck quickly whenever possible with Hynes as he is just a sitting duck. Gary Galley: Galley should still be subbed out before every game as everyone listed above is a superior option. Galley should be involved in the PK rotation as the options below him are truly dreadful. Ric Nattress: 10 weight, 2/2 speed, 2/3 shot. 2/2 sth and pass 3/3 aware, Shoots R Typically I suggest keeping defenders on their natural side but its really hard to do so in this instance. Nattress is the best right handed option and his weight does put a new wrinkle into the Flyer defense as he does have C-B check versatility. In the end its best to stick with Lindros or Brind'Amour as the C-B option as Nattress skating is just too poor and he will be exposed in almost every matchup he comes across. Bottom Line Philly does pick up some welcomed offensive options as the Flyers are blessed with some highly skilled heavyweight forwards. Their ability to create matchup problems is handicapped by one of the most vanilla defensive corps in the league. The concessions made on defense largely negate the offensive gains being realized thus leaving the Flyers much in the same competitive situation as they were before.
  10. CB Notes Forwards Doug Gilmour: While Killer may still be a killer on the defensive side of the puck, his offensive versatility has been greatly diminished by the C-B check. At 4 weight and only 5/4 skating, Gilmour may have some issues carving through defenses like he used to and it could end up being best putting him out on a wing to put his play making abilities more to use. The only issue with putting Gilmour on a wing is that competent center must be iced, this isn't exactly easy with the rest of the Leafs forwards on the roster. Nikolay Borschevsky, Glenn Anderson, & John Cullen: While this trio of players may now better suited to take down the super lightweights in the league, their lack of elite skating makes them more accessible to the bigger defenders. If Wendel Clark or Dave Andreychuk are inserted into the lineup, it may be tricky to ice the Leafs only right handed winger John Cullen as the lack of team speed can be problematic. Wendel Clark: Things now become a little interesting for Clark as he is now a viable center option despite his mediocre speed. The 5 shot power allows the Leafs to expand their one timer game and Clark has more than enough juice in his shot to take advantage of the 5 hole shot if left all alone in the middle of the ice. Clark was always a bit of a laborious option on the wing, using him as the sniper could really open things up for him. Dave Andreychuk: 11 weight, 3/3 skating 4/4 shot, 3/3 sth and Pass, 4/4 aware, Shoots: Right While it may seem Dave is perfectly set up to take advantage of the new technology at hand, he is still going to have a rough go in most situations. A lack of skating and play making skills limit him to Center duties but a lack of deke ability and a non-elite shot will limit the offensive output available. Even in the Blitz league, where heavyweights have a distinct advantage with their physicality, Andreychuk was only able to register one good season along with a couple of average ones. If his flaws can be worked around, he will give the Leafs added lineup flexibility and allow Gilmour to roam around on the wings in order to find Andreychuk posting up in the slot for some goals. New Line Combo: Borschevsky-Clark/Andreychuk-Gilmour If an opponent is capable of beating up Gilmour in the middle then this line may become a perfect counter. This line possesses two talented puck carriers on the wing who are both more than capable goal scorers. With Gilmour on the right, he can use his slapper and float shot to look for rebounds and keep the defense honest. With the defense focusing on Gilmour, he should be able to use his skills to find one of Clark or Andreychuk in the middle for a dangerous one timer or a mini breakaway on the goalie. This line also has a great mixture of weight bug and C-B check options which will make the opponent adjust their own game plan. Defense Dave Ellett: It is safe to say that Ellett's stock has risen as he is a mobile defender who should be more than able to start imposing his will on the lighter forwards in the league. It will still be tough to unload his powerful blast of a shot on offense but he will likely be giving up fewer chances on the defensive side of the puck. Todd Gill: Unfortunately for Gill, things aren't so rosy. Gill was always an under skilled blue liner that was propped up by his light weight status. Now that the bigger forwards in the league can flatten Gill, his lack of skill will be further put under the microscope. This will likely transform Gill from a key cog in the lineup into a match up consideration. Jamie Macoun: Likely the biggest benefactor on the Leafs is Mr. Macoun. At 8 weight, Macoun can now hit back against the multitude of skilled 6 weight or lighter forwards in the league and use his passing acumen to start the counter attack. With Ellett now more than capable of holding his own, having Macoun go on some offensive adventures wont be so problematic. Bob Rouse: 10 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/0 shot, 2/2 sth and pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: R The Leafs are a little short on right handed D-men and Rouse is easily the best among the limited options. The offensive skills are obviously not there but Rouse is just mobile enough to get his body checking game going and he typically has fantastic positioning in his own zone. Rouse is easily #4 on the defensive depth chart but he may warrant a spot start in matchups against skilled 7 weight wingers such as Luc Robitaille and Steve Larmer. Neither Macoun or Gill can weight bug or C-B check these players, Rouse can add a physical edge and lay them out with a C-B. New D-pair: Ellett-Rouse The main thing to note with this D-pair is that it will really excel with Gilmour at RW and Borschevsky at LW. This set up allows a weight bug checker and a C-B checker on each side of the ice. No matter who the opponent ices on their wings, they will be physically accessible to at least one if not both players. Bottom Line Previously Toronto had to rely a little too much on Gilmour to be the catalyst behind everything. Now the Leafs can spread out the responsibilities a bit and diversify their game plan. While they still lack speed and a top tier goal scorer they just became a much tougher team to matchup against.
  11. Do you insert Stevens on the wing or in the middle? I tried some preseason games with Stevens at both wings and I had issues getting him involved. I found him to be a lesser puck carrier than Jagr and a less capable sniper than Mullen. Also it made the weight disadvantage too much to bear when I took Mullen out for Stevens, it seemed I needed Mullen just for the sake of needing a light weight guy. If you were putting Stevens at C then that just seems sacrilegious to me. Lemieux has the skills to be a winger, but hes just SO GOOD at working the one timers in the middle.
  12. CB Notes The Blues can be a frustrating team to play with and play against due to it being almost necessary to ice 2 weight bug forwards with minimal skills. The introduction of the C-B check allows a little more flexibility with the lineup without leaving itself prone to be taken advantage of in their bad matchups. Forwards Brendan Shanahan: Icing Shanahan without a big hitting defender to support him now becomes a little less problematic. Shanahan is a big enough hitter with the C-B check to go up against some of middleweights with 4/4 skating in the league such as Brian Bellows and Geoff Sanderson. On offense he is still mainly just a trigger man from the wing, but the trade off to get his sniping just became much more palatable. Brett Hull: A slight defensive boost allows Hull to have a fighting chance against all the lighter and faster forwards in the league. He still has 1 on 1 issues when it comes to scoring but if the opponent decides to go heavy with their lineup, Hull is stout enough in the middle to shake off a few body checks and wreak some havoc in the slot. Nelson Emerson and Bob Bassen: Emerson is still a viable option, his 4 speed allows the Blues to play at a quicker pace but he will just need to keep his head up on his offensive excursions. Having both Bassen and Emerson now becomes a little redundant. It is probably advisable to throw a little extra skill into the battle against the heavier teams in the league since they can fight back a bit against the likes of a Bassen. Craig Janney: Janney would be a much easier sell to put in the lineup if he was a little bit faster or a better passer. The C-B check hurts Janney as much as it helps him as now 9+ weight defenders can make a point to wipe Janney out of the play and his lackluster skating wont help him avoid the big defenders. It would be wise to keep Janney in mind if the appropriate matchup comes up. One such example would be against Montreal if they ice a lineup along the lines of Leeman-Lebeau-Savard. Janney can C-B check all of those Habs while Emerson and Bassen would be reduced to only poke checking. Any advantages gained by Shanahan and Hull are quickly given back by the rest of the forwards. It is crucial to pay attention to the opponents lineup so the proper formation adjustment can be made. Defense Jeff Brown and Garth Butcher: Both of the default starters check in at 9 weight which allows them to key in on the lighter forwards in the league. It would be best to use some discretion as both guys are merely average skaters and it will be difficult for them to get back into position if they miss. Doug Crossman and Curt Giles: Both of these light weights are terrible skaters and shouldn't be considered in any weight bug battles because if they aren't laying people out then they aren't doing any good in the lineup. If iced against heavyweights, then these two shouldn't be trying to do a whole lot with the puck as they are now slow moving guys just waiting to get hammered by the big boys. Stephane Quintal: 11 weight, 2/2 skating, 2/0 shot, 3/3 sth and pass, 1/4 aware, Shoots: R Quintal is the resident heavyweight for the Blues and can be useful if used wisely. In fact, he could be a bit of an improvement over Butcher when squared off any of the premier 8-9 weight forwards in the league. The skating can be problematic, but if used successfully then Quintal's puck moving skills should be just enough to kick start the offense. Murray Baron: 10 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/1 shot, 2 sth, 1 pass, 1/2 aware, Shoots:L Despite being more mobile than Quintal there are probably fewer instances where Baron would be an upgrade over Butcher. Baron's advantage over Butcher is in his ability to C-B check 8 weight players. Frankly, I can't really think of an 8 weight player who is enough of a game changer to warrant Baron coming in especially when we must consider the fact that Baron couldn't pass the salt at the kitchen table accurately. Bottom Line The Blues are to able ice the vastly superior skilled Shanahan with more consistency which will do wonders for aiding Hull on offense. The defense also receives a little bit of a boost too as the heavyweights have an extra tool in their box to go up against any of the weight buggers. While still fighting an uphill battle against most of the teams in the league, the Blues are more than capable of applying the screws to their opponent to keep them within striking distance.
  13. Damn coach, that room be looking fly. I'm coming over right now!
  14. I agree on the PHI front, it seems tough to put them up there in the 2nd tier. Recchi is a very good player but his lack of speed keeps him from being elite. The rest of the team is pretty ok although bereft of top tier talent and is a little underwhelming. As for PIT, I've seen you mention that they are very skilled on a few occasions and I just want to put my 2 cents in. Obviously Lemieux is the most skilled guy in the game but he takes some serious know how. Jagr has 5 stick handle and Mullen has 5 shot accuracy but after that the team is very vanilla skill wise. I think PIT picked up some play ability since they are a viable defensive team now.Despite that,they still have a handful of absolutely terrible and almost unwinnable matchups when going against an equally skilled coach. These match ups come up against speedy, light, and more skilled teams such as VAN, DET, DAL, and CHI. On the other hand PIT doesn't really have any good matchups, even the teams they can outskill (SJ, TB, FLA) will push them around physically and hang around in games despite being out skilled. Plus there's almost no chance that those teams ever show up in league play. PIT is better than I thought they would be, and I did better than I thought I would in classic this last season but they are clearly not for the faint of heart.
  15. CB Notes Personnel wise, a whole lot may not change with the Pittsburgh lineup. What needs to be considered here are the tactics and what the new depth options may be, especially on defense. Forwards Mario Lemieux- Previously presumed to be a defensive catastrophe, Lemieux is now a defensive monster. Lemieux is a joy to handle as that sweet 5 agility will really allow him to hone in on even the fastest of forwards in the game and lay them out with a huge hit. Despite being prone to weight bug checking, Lemieux is now a well above average center as he can create his own offense with his new found checking ability. Opposing teams will need to be a bit more cautious with the puck in their own zone. Jaromir Jagr- While benefiting much in the same way as Lemieux on the defensive side, Jagr is still a bit of an acquired taste on offense. His tepid shot rating and proneness to being abused by weight buggers are not remedied with this new tech. Joe Mullen- A bit of a bigger target for heavier defenseman. Mullen wasn't tricky to bring down with a poke check and likely wont be tough to line up for a body check either. If anything, Mullen gets downgraded a bit from the high praise he received from my previous edition. With that said, he is still head and shoulders above the other options. Kevin Stevens, Ron Francis, Rick Tocchet- Nothing too new to report here, Stevens is a bit unwieldy with his 3 agility at 11 weight but he could be useful for someone who is incredibly adept at the C-B check. Francis and Tocchet are still slow and bumbling heavy weights that will have difficulty using their newly found powers. Shawn Mceachern and Martin Straka- They are a bit easier to pick off now for the heavier guys as neither is a skilled skater in their own right. Their utility gets downgraded a bit and it will be important to look at the matchup at hand. They can probably still hold their own against other lightweights, use with caution against a heavy team. Overall, Pittsburgh gains very little on offense with these changes as they will still rely on quick passing and one timers to compete. Defensively is where the Penguins now transform from push over into a team that can really lay some lumber. Defense Larry Murphy- All of a sudden Murphy isn't such a turnstyle to the leagues fastest forwards. He still maintains solid defensive position and can use this advantage to really lay into some guys trying to work their way into the slot. Its the pesky guys with 9 &10 weight (Sandstrom, Hull, Turgeon, Neely) that will still give Murphy some fits as he is reduced to merely poke checking against them. On offense he is largely the same, a little slow and an easy target for a fast and light forward to get after. Ulf Samuelsson- A little extra oomph has been added to those knee seeking body checks. Samuelsson was always a great skater and he can now lay out a Steve Yzerman type of player as he rightly should be able to do. Kjell Samuelsson: 14 weight, 2/2 skating, 4/1 shot, 3 stick handle, 2 pass, 1/3 aware, shoots: R Talk about weight bug whoring in the opposite direction. Kjell is a bit of overkill when it comes to using the C-B check as he will obliterate most anyone in the game. Better options are available to take down a lightweight speedster or a skilled heavyweight. Peter Taglianeti: 9 weight, 2/2 skating, 3/0 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 2/3 aware, Shoots: L Despite being a more reasonable option than Kjell there still isn't much to get excited about here with Taglianeti. He is a default sub so it's not unreasonable that he could get some ice time. I'm listing his vitals here more as a reference than as a suggestion to ice him over Murphy, Stanton or the brothers Samuelsson. Bottom Line The main and probably only change to note here is the defensive tactics for Pittsburgh. Once believed to be team comprised of poke checkers has transformed into a C-B machine. There are still a litany of issues with this team such as speed, skill, and depth but thankfully some gains have been made defensively.The Pens can attempt to play a defensive trap game that is fueled by a counter attacking offense. While still among the dregs of non-expansion teams because of their inability to keep up with speedy teams, the Pens are a much more viable squad against the middle tier teams.
  16. I figured it'd be prudent of me to get some C-B notes involved in this portion of the site as I now feel a bit more comfortable making suggestions after playing the most recent classic season. For anyone new to the site or any veterans unfamiliar with what the C-B check is, please refer to this post by Tomkabs. In my new posts I will touch on whatever is relevant to the team in question whether it be a new line combo, a new player or a possible change in tactics that weren't considered before we figured out how the C-B check affected game play. As always, I encourage other people to chip in as well with any thoughts they have as they may have more experience using a particular team than I do.
  17. An update on my status, I still very much want to attend this event and will likely be able to do so. Just waiting a little bit longer than some other guys so I have a better idea of my schedule around the time of the tournament. My 2 cents on the grand champion debate largely echos what Coach said. There is 3 months between now and the tournament which is plenty of time to get acquainted with the other system. Back when I made the transition it took maybe 10-15 games for me to feel comfortable and get competitive in the SNES scene. I've never won an SNES league but there haven't been many instances where I've just been utterly outclassed by a top SNES player. While it may be tougher for a SNES player to make a transition to GENS, there is still time do so successfully. Just get those exhis in and learn some of the nuances of GENS game play. There is an entire section devoted to lineup construction in the forum and that should be a great head start in learning some of the major lineups to use and possible matchups to consider. There are also countless youtube videos to watch where top players face off each against each other. Experience can be gained by watching what they do to be successful and instances where their weaknesses can get exploited. I'd be more than happy to talk with anyone about making the transition, feel free to PM me a message through NHL 94 or drop a note on AIM. I want to have the highest level of competition possible at the event and am willing to help anyone and everyone to achieve that goal.
  18. Cant you wait to fix this until after our blitz series? Rude!
  19. Yes, I'll play once I get back. Later this week. I only was able to play depch because we played in person
  20. I'll be back in the states on Wednesday. I'll do my best to get my series done promptly once I've arrived.
  21. Bo please let me know your availability if you have any leading up to the end of the season. I'd really like to get our games in if possible.
  22. Hey everybody I'm back with another report as we play the final third of the season over the next week. Lets take a look at some updated statistics Again I'll break down each team starting with the highest point total first. Pittsburgh 46 pts: Remaining (DAL & CGY x2; STL X1) After a sizzling start, the Pens fell back to Earth and the heart of the playoff race with a 2-8 stretch against some key foes. AJ was able to reestablish the early season TRAPON recently and the team has won 4 of its last 5 and has likely given themselves enough breathing room to ensure a playoff spot. The shots against has risen to above 9 which was to be expected as the sub 8 total at the midway point was simply unsustainable in such a competitive league. Winnipeg 44 pts: Remaining (BUF x4; CGY & LA x2; DAL x1) Tomkabs has wasted no time and announced his presence with authority. First in offense & defense the Jets have the inside track on the #1 seed in the league and appear to be the odds on favorite for the cup currently. The only red flag in the statistical performance is the relatively high 1079 PDO and even that shouldn’t be given much credence because every other statistic shows that WPG dominates its opponents. Calgary 40 pts: Remaining (STL x 4; PIT &WPG x2) Hokkee has done some serious slacking and hasn’t played a game since my previous review. Nothing new to report here since CGY is totally dependent on a good matchup in the playoffs and the somewhat lackluster statistical performance may not project future success. A strong finish could wrap up a #2 seed and keep Hokkee away from Tomkabs until the finals. Toronto 38 pts: Remaining (MTL X4; STL X1) Toronto seems to be fighting things lately as their favorable statistical performance has started to trend the other way. The main difference seems to be shot differential as Toronto was averaging 2 more shots than their opponent early in the season. This has reversed and now Toronto is being slightly outshot which seems to have made a world of difference as most every other stat has stayed relatively stable. The set with Montreal is key, a good performance could ensure a playoff spot while a disaster would make the final days of the season nerve wracking to say the least. Buffalo 34 pts: Remaining (Que, WPG & MTL x4; DET x3; STL x2) Buffalo continues to spit into the wind of statistical logic and is riding an even higher 1202 PDO as they still largely control their own destiny in the push for a top seed. While looking at the statistics, it may be difficult to see how the Sabres knock off the Jets but we can’t completely disregard it as Zepp continues to produce positive results. Zepp is slowly whittling away at his negative shot differential and if he can continue to do that while riding his PDO, his goal differential will become scary good. Impossible to project where Zepp will end up but a playoff spot seems in the cards. Los Angeles 34 pts: Remaining (STL, DAL & VAN x4; WPG x2) Another team riding a negative shot differential and high PDO is Habs and his LA Kings. There are some tricky games still left on his schedule and a poor run of games could leave LA’s playoff spot in serious doubt. Going 7-7 in this home stretch would be more than enough for the Kings qualify for the playoffs as he is mostly playing against people chasing him. Lastly, props to Habs for maintaining a fantastic 3.77 GAA with Hrudey and that lame brain defense he’s working with. Montreal 33 pts: Remaining (TOR & BUF x4; STL & VAN x2) Montreal has not been trending in a positive direction as of late. What was once a very fine statistical line is starting to look dire and a high PDO of 1074 is propping up the Habs playoff positioning. Some luck trending in the other direction in games against divisional foes Toronto and Buffalo could prove catastrophic and knock Depch out of the playoff picture all together. Games against a typically dominant KGman don’t bode well either and I wouldn’t be surprised if Montreal slips out of contention over the final days. Detroit 30 pts: Remaining (BUF x3) Abysmal goaltending by Chevelde seems to be what cost Detroit its chance at sneaking into the playoffs. Despite a league average offence, Brut languished with a 903 PDO which will usually damn a team no matter how well it plays. If the season were perhaps 10 games longer Brut may have been a player as he did seem to figure his team out a bit more as the season went on. Boston 28 pts: Remaining (STL x4; DAL & QUE x2; NYR x1) Despite averaging nearly a goal more than their opposition, Boston still languishes on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. It seems that quite simply Boston either wins big or loses close and they will need to figure out how to win close because being 1-11 in one goal games up to this point obviously isn't cutting it. The schedule couldn’t be much better with three games against the two last place teams in their division and 6 games against teams trying to chase down the final playoff spots. Win and their in, King has left himself no more room for mistakes. Quebec 17 pts: Remaining (BUF x4; STL x3; DAL & BOS x2) Very little has changed for Queebc in a statistical sense and that has unfortunately all but doomed their playoff hopes. Even if Smoz managed to pull off an 11-0 run, it would leave him at 39 points and that likely won’t cut it. Vancouver 15 pts: Remaining (DAL x5; STL & LA x4; MTL x2) Perhaps if we were playing NHL ’96 and Sic was provided with the New Jersey Devils then just maybe he would be owning this league. The low event “Is it TRAPON or is the GAMEEVENON?” game style has translated into a still bizarrely low 856 PDO that is dragged down solely by a 22.50% shot conversion rate. While mathematically alive, it would take a drastic turn of events for Vancouver to make the necessary run to qualify. Dallas 13 pts: Remaining (24 games) I still have no clue what to make of Swos, the statistical performance is poor and he is handicapping himself with a gamepad. He still has a boatload of games to work with and if he can tap into his usual keyboard performances he can still squeak into the playoffs. St. Louis 12 pts: Remaining (29 games) KGman is playing some average hockey and he’s one game over .500 currently. Finally, someone that makes some damn sense around here. KG is the real wild card here, if he knocks the rust off and wins his share of games you have to like his chances to get to the playoffs and make noise as he has made championship runs with equally as talent inept teams. How his situation plays out will be interesting to watch. Rangers 10 pts: Remaining (DAL X4; BOS x1) Some minor statistical and luck improvements has allowed Scribe to get off the schnide and get some victories under his belt. His persistence is paying off and he can still play spoiler to a couple of the big guns who are struggling this season. Projected Final Standings 1. Winnipeg (Eastern Champ) 2. Los Angeles (West Champ) 3. Buffalo 4. Pittsburgh 5. Calgary 6. St. Louis 7. Toronto 8. Boston 9. Montreal 10. Dallas 11. Detroit 12. Vancouver 13. Quebec 14. Rangers Good luck to everyone the rest of the way, lets try to get 100% games played!
  23. I know I was a little nervous when I saw modern flatscreens being set up in Saskatoon since the flatscreens at my house weren't able to handle the N64. My concerns were quickly abated during the exhibitions before the tournament as the pictures were crisp and the controls had no noticeable delay. I don't think there should be any issues with the technology being proposed and I would imagine the location has done or will do a little bit of testing just to make sure everything will work as best as possible.
  24. Id just like to get it out there early but I will be completely unavailable for games between May 5th-20th. If we need to work out anything for me playing any possible playoff series, please let me know.
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