angryjay93

Sorry about that, I cleaned it up and it should make sense now.

New Jersey Devils Team Overview: If the Devils were removed from the game, I don’t think many people would notice. If there is a more non-descript team in the game, I’d like to know because no one receives less fan fare than the Devils. Aside from puck pounding center Stephane Richer, the Devils have plenty of average players that aren’t particularly noteworthy or fun to use. Forwards: While somewhat effective, the Devils forward group is rather ho-hum. Aside from Richer’s shot power, no other forward possesses an elite skill. In fact, all Devils forwards are flawed, and they don’t necessarily offset each others weaknesses very well. From Russia with Love: Zelepukin-Richer-Semak Valeri Zelepukin: 6 weight, 4/4 skating, 3/3 shot, 4 sth & pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: L Zelepukin is a steady complimentary forward and he is allowed to play to that role on the Devils. Zelepukin is the only light weight player on the roster who has plus skating and thusly he will be carrying the puck up the ice the majority of the time. While a solid playmaker, Zelepukin isn’t a dangerous enough scorer or skater to really take the Devils offense to the next level. Score goals he must though as Richer doesn’t score consistently enough to carry the Devils to victory. Zelepukin is also the main defensive force here being the strongest skater and lightest option on the line. A lot is being asked of Valeri, he needs to deliver. Stephane Richer: 9 weight, 4/4 skating, 5/3 shot, 4 sth, 3 pas, 4/3 aware, Shoots: R It is likely that Richer will help the Devils as much as he will hurt them. This is essentially the commentary on building a line for the Devils, it’s about trying to use players who won’t kill the team. It’s tough to call Richer a sniper, since he doesn’t do a good job at sniping; he still remains interesting to watch as his thunderous one-timers are unpredictable. Richer isn’t great going one on one or at moving the puck, but he does have enough speed to take advantage of a lazy defense and can make some easy feeds to the open winger if need be. Richer gives you what you’d expect from a slug, bad defense that will induce many headaches. Alexander Semak: 6 weight, 4/3 skating, 3/4 shot, 4 sth & pass, 4/4 aware, Shoots: R A steady playmaker, Semak can do some damage on offense if given time and space to operate in. Often times though, in a fast paced game, Semak becomes a forgotten man as his lack of speed can hinder his ability to affect a game positively. If puck possession can be established, Semak becomes a surprisingly opportunistic goal scorer as he is a more skilled finisher than his shooting ratings would suggest. Hopefully, Semak has more good games than bad games in AI mode because his awareness in both zones can help offset his lack of skating, if not it’ll be a long game for Semak despite his light weight and playmaking skills. This line won’t be confused among the elite, but it has its strengths. The wings are both light and skilled with the puck, they should be able to feed Richer often enough to give the Devils a chance to keep up. The question though is how often can the wings score and cover for Richer on defense, if that question goes unanswered, this line suffers. The Suckbags: Zelepukin-Semak-Nicholls Bernie Nicholls: 6 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/2 shot, 4 sth & pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: R Nicholls provides a similar game to Semak, just with less scoring ability. The lack of skating and shooting can provide cause for concern, but by playing on his forehand side, he can use his passing and dekeing skills to full effect here and attempt to create some space in the offensive zone for the rest of the line. Nicholls is by no means a special player, but he should be able to compliment this line adequately enough to warrant starting him. This line is pretty slow, but it is light and skilled. Puck possession is key here as well as precision passing. The offense is limited to anything from inside the face off circles; penetration into the offensive zone is going to be crucial as the lack of shot power doesn’t allow the Devils to stretch the offense. Defensively, Richer won’t be a liability anymore, but Semak and Nicholls lack of speed could become one against Vancouver and Dallas type teams. Other Options: These guys might get lucky to be a 5th or 6th forward in a GDL league as they are more heavily flawed then the previously mentioned players. Peter Stastny: 9 weight, 4/3 skating, 3/4 shot, 4 sth & pass, 3/4 aware, Shoots: L A bit too slow and heavy to be a starter, Stastny can fill in on the right wing and provide some playmaking skills if one of the starting wingers get hurt. A spot start might not be out of the question either, but there are simply too many teams that can take advantage of Stastny for him to be a good player in the league. Bobby Holik: 10 weight, 3/4 skating, 3/3 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R A standard option on the right, Holik brings a little extra speed at the cost of a whole lot of weight. Still, if the forward ranks get thinned out during a game, he can come in and be a more effective player than most of the other guys on the roster. Claude Lemieux: 11 weight, 4/4 skating, 4/2 shot, 3 sth & pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: R Despite being a default starter, Lemieux doesn’t have a whole lot of business doing so. Extremely heavy for a forward, Lemieux will easily be taken advantage of no matter the match-up. Combine that with average passing and an inaccurate shot, Claude becomes a last resort option off the bench at center. John MacLean: 9 weight, 3/3 skating, 4/3 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 3/4 aware, Shoots: R Ed Olcyzk without the passing, MacLean might be a more reasonable center option than Lemieux as his shot is better and he might be a little easier to handle despite the downgraded skating statistics. Ideally though, MacLean nor Lemieux ever have to touch the ice. Forwards: 5/10 Defense: If you were hoping for something different from the forwards, you will be disappointed as the defense is also populated by a decently skilled light weight and crippling heavy players that don’t have enough skill to be very useful. Driver-Stevens Bruce Driver: 6 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/2 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/4 aware, Shoots: L Driver falls into a group of standard light weight defenseman such as Alexei Gusarov, Mark Howe, Todd Gill, and Norm MacIver. Driver much like Zelepukin though must play over his head in order to guide the Devils to success as he is being asked to do more than he ought to be expected of. Excelling as a stay at home defenseman, Driver can assert himself physically or via the poke check if need be. He can struggle against Selanne, Mogilny, and Bure, but there aren’t too many defensemen adept at handling them one on one to begin with. Not a gifted goal scorer by any means, Driver is still capable of driving a play into the attacking zone, making a move and dishing the puck off often enough to chip in his fair share of assists over the long haul. It’s wise to not get over aggressive with Driver though as his partners aren’t usually able to handle a counter attack on their own. Scott Stevens: 11 weight, 4/4 skating, 4/2 shot, 4 sth & pass, 3/4 aware, Shoots: L A glorious checker and crease stuffer in AI mode, Stevens really takes a turn for the worse when under user control. Thanks to his massive weight, Stevens in open ice is reduced to holding and poke checking which puts him at a distinct disadvantage, especially if he’s scrambling around. Stevens does have some good mobility and offensive skills, but his weight disadvantage makes him a borderline #2 defenseman in the best case scenario. Be careful handling the puck in the defensive zone with Stevens, he is a constant target out there and if he gets crushed, the best AI defender is now lost. A classic pairing in that couples a skilled heavyweight with an average lightweight; this pairing is going to have its share of ups and downs no matter what. Limiting mistakes and making effective passes though should cut down on how far the downs go. Driver-Niedermayer Scott Niedermayer: 9 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/2 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: L Despite being a heavyweight, Niedermayer possesses all the minimum attributes to be a legitimate option on the blue line. Deciding between Stevens and Niedermayer is really a matter of preference though as there are clear trade offs to be made here. Niedermayer isn’t going to do anything spectacular; he’s going to be even blander than Driver. This pairing should help smooth out the highs and lows that can be experienced with the previous pairing. But a lack of speed on both sides of the ice leaves it prone to breakaways and counter attacks. Without a whole lot of help from the forwards, this defense could get lit up. Other Options: The Devils we’re a rather bruising team, they certainly had some big bodies back there, but that doesn’t bode well for NHL ’94. Alexei Kasatonov: 11 weight, 4/3 skating, 4/1 shot, 4 sth & pass, 2/3 aware, Shoots: L Despite being on a better team than in Anaheim, Kasatonov still isn’t adequately supported here to help cover up his weaknesses. Kasatonov can be a suitable sub for Stevens as he brings a similar set of skills although slightly downgraded and sans the aggressive AI mode. Slava Fetisov: 11 weight, 4/2 skating, 4/1 shot, 4 sth & pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L Another skilled super heavyweight, Fetisov is really tough to ice because he is painfully slow and his lack of acceleration only further exacerbates the problem. He can do the job as a 4th defenseman in the GDL, but decisions must be made quickly when the puck is on his stick. Defense: 4.5/10 Goalie Zone: Fortunately, the Devils aren’t devastated by awful goaltending, but they don’t get the superior goaltending they would need to be a competitive team. Chris Terreri: 2 weight, 4/4 skating, 4/4 aware, 3 puck control, 3/3/3/3 save, Catches: L A great manual keeper, Terreri is more than capable of eating up a lot of space in his crease in a short amount of time. But he can give out some juicy rebounds as his save and puck control ratings are nothing to write home about. Also, beware of the ram tactic; Terreri can be easily abused by big, aggressive forwards. Goalies: 6/10 Bottom Line: There isn’t a whole lot that can be done to spice up the Devils, they are possibly the most vanilla team in the league and that is reflected by the fact that they are almost never selected in Gens classic league or exhibition games for that matter. Puck possession and a grinding game is where the Devils thrive most, not the most glamorous style for sure.

With 1/1 skating at 10 weight, I'd sure say so.

May 10th at the earliest huh? Do I dare do a Blitz league draft primer?

Ottawa Senators Team Overview: Ottawa is horrible. Yet, I like using them. It has nothing to do with the personnel on the roster, which is wretched; only 1 player on the roster is GDL draft worthy. The reason I like using Ottawa is because of all the trash talking that can be done after winning with Ottawa, unless the team you beat is Anaheim or Florida. Forwards: On a legitimate team, none of the Ottawa forwards would sniff the starting lineup. The best thing that could be said about Ottawa is that they do have the ability to mix and match a bit with their line combos as they aren’t filled with a ton of players that do the same thing. But when no one does anything well, the lines have only so much potential to recognize. Offense? What’s that?: Turgeon-Baker-Smail Sylvain Turgeon: 9 weight, 4/4 skating, 3/2 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: L A poor man’s Pat Falloon...really? We’re starting with this? Come on AJ, just get through it. Damn, I wish I could talk about Pierre Turgeon again, but I’ll force myself to talk about Sylvain. Ideally, Turgeon would be the center because of his weight, but his lackluster shooting and awareness make him ineffective in that role. Turgeon seems to fit better on his natural wing where he can use his speed in areas of the ice with some lighter traffic. If he can dance around and make a guy or two miss, things do tend to open up for the Sens and he can make short effective passes or attack the net and use his speed to deke the goalie. At his worst though, Turgeon will be a giveaway machine whether it be getting knocked off the puck or with his lackluster passing skills and he wont do anything defensively to make up for the turnovers. Jamie Baker: 7 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/3 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R There are worse center options in the league, but this is pretty dang close to the worst. Baker is the main weapon on this line, he does an admirable job, but he’s really in deep when going up against a hard hitting defense. Baker possesses neither the speed or weight advantage to get away from the defense consistently, but when he does, he’s competent enough at depositing the puck in the net, try to take advantage of such chances. When playing against a heavier team, Baker becomes a better player because then he can throw his weight around a bit, every advantage gained is critical. Doug Smail: 5 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/1 shot, 2 sth & pass, 2/3 aware, Shoots: L If you’re looking for offensive production, you’ve come to the wrong place. Smail has only one thing in mind, if it moves, destroy it. Unfortunately though, Smail often finds himself leading the attack because he is light and a decent skater. Leading the attack with Smail though is akin to trying to slash through your buddy with a plastic light saber. Shoot with Smail? I dare you too. Pass with Smail? I’d love to see how that turns out. There isn’t a happy end to any story with the puck on Smail’s stick, you just hope he gets it off someone else’s often enough to be useful. This line has a little speed, some defensive presence, and hopefully enough scoring to stay in a game. Smail and Turgeon have 2 passing. That fact is going to make it really tough to move the puck around effectively. Short passes and puck support is going to be the key to the Senators offense because turnovers can kill good teams, just imagine how ugly things could get with Ottawa. Baker-Kudelski-Smail Bob Kudelski: 9 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/4 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R The resident sniper, Kudelski is the answer to those looking for a one-timing slug in the middle. To no one’s surprise, Kudelski is a bottom tier slug, he doesn’t have the skating, shooting, or awareness to make him particular threatening in any aspect of the game. If left wide open though, Kudelski can do some work, so he can’t be completely ignored in the middle like most other Senator forwards. Defensively, he’s a vortex of suck. He will get abused by most every center in the league; he is going to need a lot of support. Time for a compliment sandwich. What I like about this line, Baker and Kudelski create a 1-2 punch that can pass and score, not at a high level, but hey, it’s still something. Something bad...This line has none speed. Something good, something good...Smail has a great ‘stache, we need to get his photo into the line match-ups screen. Random Assorted Crap on the Right: Turgeon-Baker-Lamb/Lazaro/Boschman Mark Lamb: 6 weight, 4/3 skating, 2/1 shot, 3 sth & pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L If his lack of goal scoring prowess can be ignored, Lamb is a viable option. He skates pretty well, has some playmaking abilities to help aid the offense, is defensively conscious and he can play the body a bit. It’s just by time you’ve set him up for the 50th slam dunk one-timer that he some how puts into the stands is about the time he stays glued to the bench. Jeff Lazaro: 6 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/3 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 3/1 aware, Shoots: L Another light player with average skating, Lazaro has a bit more touch around the net and he’s not unfamiliar with setting up shop around it. The fact remains though, that Lazaro is simply not a good player. Laurie Boschman: 6 weight, 4/2 skating, 2/2 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L The speed is bad, but it’s not like anyone else on the Sentaors is that fast, so he will blend in. Skill wise, it’s best just not to talk about it. Defensively, he isn’t Bob Kudelski. Trading in Smail’s defense for a smidge more offense isn’t the worst thing in the world to do, especially considering this offense doesn’t come at a huge price. In the end, the gain is fairly negligible. Forwards: 1.5/10 Defense: Here resides the one legitimate player on the Senators roster, but not even Don Sweeney himself could save this team. Norm MacIver is solid and provides some stability, but there is a ton of minor league caliber talent behind him. MacIver-Shaw Norm MacIver: 6 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/2 shot, 2 sth, 3 pass, 4/4 aware, Shoots: L While not spectacular, MacIver is as solid as they come because he is light, fairly mobile, smart, and has enough skills with the puck to provide a spark offensively. Asking him to carry a team though, it’s a bit too much since Norm is better suited as a #2 D-man. Still, he does prove rather effective because he can handle the heavier forwards in the league with a body check and he isn’t outmatched too badly against the lighter and faster ones. Unfortunately though, the Senators are often forced to activate MacIver on offense because the forwards are so inept at creating their own. This inevitably leads to some turnovers and MacIver just isn’t fast enough to get back and cover himself on defense, there is a lot of risk/reward to be had here. Brad Shaw: 7 weight, 3/2 skating, 3/1 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R If I had to choose between Garth Butcher and Brad Shaw, I’d probably take Brad Shaw. Does that qualify as a compliment? All in all, Shaw isn’t disease inducing bad, but he is still held back due to his lack of speed which can really hurt him in a lot of instances. Shaw really labors against any player with speed or hitting ability as he lacks the ability to elude a good check. Thankfully, in comparison to a lot of other garbage D-men, Shaw can move the puck a bit and he has a decent amount of awareness which helps him cover up the slot on defense. Still, a slow, middle weight defenseman with no plus skills isn’t going to get a team like Ottawa very far. Is it the league’s worst pairing? No. Is it close? Perhaps. Still, this duo has it where it counts to not get murdered which is decent weight, decent passing, and decent awareness. Avoid getting into a high flying game at all costs though because the lack of speed here will put the Senators at a huge disadvantage. Other Options: The starting duo is set in stone, they can be flip flopped to play their off-handed sides, but they need to start. The rest of the D-core is composed of light weight pylons. Chris Luongo: 6 weight, 2/2 skating, 1/0 shot, 2 sth & pass, 1/3 aware, Shoots: R This should be the first option off the bench for Ottawa, an appealing option this is not. Slow, unskilled, and dumb, Luongo will not get the job done in most instances, but he is at least light. Hopefully, the opponent goes on a C check binge when they start seeing random Ottawa defenseman, Luongo is decent at absorbing a check, hopefully he can do so and then release the puck to another player who should promptly turn it over. Ken Hammond: 7 weight, 3/2 skating, 2/1 shot, 2 sth, 1 pass, 1/3 aware, Shoots: L It’s probably safe to say Ken has never been drafted in any online league and it isn’t hard to see why that would be the case. If Shaw gets hurt, Hammond does bring the same weight and skating to the table. It’s too bad though that this table is supported on three rickety legs. Tomas Jelinek: 7 weight, 2/2 skating, 2/2 shot, 3 sth, 1 pass, 2/2 aware, Shoots: L I would presume this is the Senators idea of a joke for their answer to an offensive defenseman? Brad Marsh: 11 weight, 2/2 skating, 1/0 shot, 1 sth, 2 pass, 0/3 aware, Shoots: L A default sub that gives up goals by default when iced. Defense: 3/10 Goalie Zone: The term goalie is being used rather loosely here; turnstile ought to be more appropriate. Daniel Berthiaume: 1 weight, 3/3 skating, 1/1 aware, 2 puck control, 2/2/2/2 save, Catch: L The unique thing about Berthiaume is his 1 weight, only dude in the game this light. But even his super fly weight status doesn’t save his lack of mobility in net. Still, he is the better manual goalie. Trust me; there will be a ton of that going on. Peter Sidorkwicz: 6 weight, 2/3 skating, 1/1 aware, 2 puck control, 2/2/2/2 save, Catch: L Shoddy mobility and non super fly weight status makes for a goalie that moves like a tank, machine gun turret not included on this model. This is akin to picking death by evisceration or drawing and quartering. If Berthiaume is drawing and quartering, I’ll pick that. It ends quicker I assume. Goalies: 0/10 Bottom Line: Just don’t. But if you must, it is essential to slow the game down and frustrate the opponent. The Senators simply do not have the talent to carry a game offensively; they must create turnovers, convert their chances on offense, and keep the puck away from their “goalies”. Good luck.

Draft!

Got Dallas up there today, starting to run out of good teams to write about. Ottawa is currently in the works, but I'm not happy with it as it is neither serious or funny, I think I'll have to start over. Washington is on a different computer, which is why it keeps getting pushed back since I never have time to write when that computer is available to me. Just 5 more teams, who would have thought!

Dallas Stars Team Overview: There may be no other team in the league that relies on pure, dumb, blind speed as much as the Dallas Stars. Chances should come in droves for the Stars because of their speed, it is entirely likely though that many of these chances will be wasted by their pathetic shooting ability. If they can figure out a way light the lamp consistently, the Stars have the defense and goaltending to support the forwards which make a contender for a top 5 team in the game. Forwards: Just like being a power bottom*, speed is the name of the game in ’94 often times, the Stars have that in spades. While Modano and Courtnall have a bit of a learning curve on them, once they are mastered, they are extremely dangerous players that can be tough to contain. Pair that with a defensive minded Broten, and the Stars have a top tier line. The depth is ok, but it shouldn’t come into play too much. Spray ‘N Pray: Modano-Courtnall-Broten Mike Modano: 7 weight, 5/5 skating, 5/2 shot, 5 sth, 4 pass, 4/4 aware, Shoots: L Modano is a rare blend of pure speed and shooting power which makes him a uniquely effective player. But the accuracy, the lack of accuracy to be precise is the only thing holding back Modano from being truly elite. There may be no forward in the league better at throwing easy chances away than Modano. Most users don’t notice a tangible difference between a 4 or 5 shot accuracy, but the drop down to 2 is painfully obvious. Despite all this, Modano’s other skills compensate and he is able to create a litany of chances with speed and playmaking abilities as well as his blistering shot. He will need these numerous chances, but when Modano does manage to put the puck on net, his shot power allows him to blow the puck by the goalie with great ease. Russ Courtnall: 6 weight, 5/6 skating, 4/3 shot, 3 sth & pass, 4/2 aware, Shoots: R Perfect speed is always beneficial, even when the skill set is just a bit above average such as the case is with Courtnall. Obviously, not an ideal one-timing center due to his speed and lack of shot accuracy, Courtnall is still the best option in the middle because he is extremely dangerous in the one-on-one game. Courtnall, is typically a round 1 pick in the GDL draft, and with good reason, his speed is elite, it can drive defenses crazy and he has just enough of a slap shot that needs to be respected in which to keep defenses honest. Defensively, Courtnall can be very effective, though not as effective as a Roenick or Bure, Courtnall is still adept at throwing his body weight around and he is among the top players in leading a counter attack. One thing to keep in mind with Courtnall though is his lack of passing, it is so tempting to just try and blow by everyone on the ice, but if he gets in trouble, his lack of passing can be cause of concern as he gives away the puck time and time again. The art of patience and elusiveness is just as important to Courtnall’s game as his raw speed is. Neal Broten: 4 weight, 4/4 skating, 3/2 shot, 3 sth, 4 pass, 3/5 aware, Shoots: L Arguably the top defensive forward in the game, Broten is not only a huge hitter, but he is a capable puck handler and playmaker which makes him a unique threat on both sides of the ice. Most users hold Broten in high regard despite the weak shot ratings because he is an equal to Roenick when it comes to checking. Dallas isn’t the greatest defensive team, but the addition of Broten allows the Stars to be able to handle players such as Selanne, Mogilny, and Bondra much more effectively by putting a massive checking presence on the ice, it can really change the way an opponent attacks the Stars. If Broten can create turnovers, he is also a competent passer and he can easily spring Modano and Courtnall on breakaways and allow them to work their magic. If the game turns into a puck possession type game in the offensive zone, Broten brings an element of calmness to the line as his skating and ease of handling allows him to be very precise with his movements and passing to set up some easy one timers. This line has so much potential if used correctly, it rivals Vancouver and Detroit in effectiveness on offense and defense. But if the speed game gets harnessed, Dallas can struggle with creating chances that are easy enough for their inaccurate shooters to take advantage of. The 3 forwards collectively average a 4 shot power, but only 2.3 accuracy, it’s one of the most lopsided ratios in the game. The Crash Line: Gagner-Courtnall-Modano Dave Gagner: 6 weight, 4/4 skating, 3/4 shot, 4 sth & pass, 4/4 aware, Shoots: L It’s not so much that there is any thing wrong with Gagner, it’s more of a case that there just isn’t so much of anything right with him. A standard, heady type winger, Gagner should provide some very solid, more offensively minded play than Broten will. This could be rather useful as Gagner does immediately become the most consistent shooter on the ice for the Stars. He is also a noted garbage goal specialist as he is prone to crash the net on rebounds and other such scrums to pick up some ugly goals. The drop off in defense from Broten to Gagner though is noticeable, but that doesn’t mean Gagner is a liability, he just doesn’t provide much of anything different from Courtnall or Modano in the body checking game. This combo opens up some new attacking options, Modano is now on his off wing and he is more able to use his big slapper. While it may not hit the net often enough, it should either provide a goal or a massive rebound if it does. Courtnall should be used in the same fashion still and he will cause a ton of havoc in the slot. Gagner brings a gritty element on offense, which should come in handy; it’s just going to take a more refined defensive strategy to keep the Stars as effective as they would be if they were icing Broten instead. Run ‘BMC: Broten-Modano-Courtnall Some people do find Modano easier to handle in the center and Courtnall on the wing. There is nothing wrong with this set up, it’s still very effective and Modano’s one-timers in the slot can be very Brett Hull like. With Broten on the left now, it keeps the teams most effective penalty killer in the lineup without the need of substitution. Don’t be afraid to experiment with line combos when using the Stars, feeling comfortable when using their speed is the most crucial element to their success. Other Options: Ulf Dahlen: 8 weight, 3/4 skating, 3/4 shot, 4 sth, 3 pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: L After Gagner, the depth really takes a sharp dip into mediocrity. Dahlen is a bit on the heavy side to be truly effective in a classic or GDL league, but he does have his moments because he has the speed and shooting ability to chip in offensively. If injuries spring up or penalties become an issue, Dahlen is a rare 4 speed on a team that is rather bereft speed wise after its top tier talent. Mike Craig: 6 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/3 shot, 4 sth, 2 pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R Craig is a player without a true position, he lacks the passing and speed to be an effective wing, but lacks the sniping ability to be a center. He is a lighter option though who could man a 5th/6th forward spot effectively enough to warrant ice time in emergency situations. Brent Gilchrist: 6 weight, 4/3 skating, 3/2 shot, 4 sth, 3 pass, 2/2 aware, Shoots: L Gilchrist is a bit better fit as a winger as he has average puck moving skills and is a slightly better skater than Craig. The lack of awareness though is a little bothersome as he has a tendency to wander around. Fowards: 8.5/10 (Carried by the top tier depth) Defense: Dallas epitomizes league average defense as they have a couple of light weight, non-descript options that can get the job done more often than not. Johnson-Sjodin Jim Johnson: 7 weight, 2/3 skating, 2/1 shot, 3 sth, 4 pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L Although his skating feels a little clunky at times, Johnson is still a rather effective defenseman who brings an offensive element to his game by being able to distribute the puck with aplomb all over the ice. Johnson may not be a true light weight, but he has it where it counts in that he can handle a goal scoring slug in the middle with either a poke check or body check, versatility that shouldn’t go unappreciated. Although he is fairly good at staying in his own zone, he does have issues handling fast and light forwards because he doesn’t have the skating or checking ability to keep them under wraps. Tommy Sjodin: 6 weight, 4/3 skating, 4/1 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R Steady as they come skill wise, Sjodin won’t be turning heads ideally. In fact, the less he is noticed, the better he is playing. Offensively, it can be a bit tempting to try incorporate his powerful shot, especially if the forwards are struggling, but his shot is more inaccurate than his weak accuracy rating would imply. Against a fleet footed or a light team, it’s best to keep Sjodin defensive minded as he is the better of the two defenders at slowing down and containing a transition rush which allows the Stars forwards to help on the back check. Not a particularly mobile or heavy hitting unit, they are still light enough to not be easily taken advantage with or without the puck. They do show flashes of offensive ability, but there is plenty of fire power up front to where their services shouldn’t be called upon unless the situation calls for it. Sjodin-Tinordi Mark Tinordi: 9 weight, 3/3 skating, 4/2 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 3/4 aware, Shoots: L When it comes to heavy defenseman that could be considered to start, Tinordi is among the bottom tier. It’s tough to figure what the bigger weakness is, the average skating, rotund weight, or abysmal passing. Typically if a heavy defender is iced, he needs either plus skating or passing, preferably both, Tinordi has neither. Tinordi’s strength lies in his shooting where for a defenseman, he has a very solid shot, but that lack of speed and inability to take a check is going to make his shooting ability a moot point in most games. Some users do use him, but it’s really tough for me to recommend as he brings nothing useful to the table. Sjodin might be in over his head trying to carry Tinordi here. It’s probably best to look elsewhere if Johnson is laboring around the ice too much, unfortunately though, there aren’t many other useful options which is why Tinordi gets consideration. Richard Matvichuk: 7 weight, 2/3 skating, 3/0 shot, 3 sth, 2 pass, 1/3 aware, Shoots: L If either Johnson or Sjodin gets hurt, this is probably the best place to turn as Matvichuk is a lesser version of Johnson. Matvichuk does hang back in his own zone typically and he is light enough to take out some heavier players and hopefully he can find a quick outlet to a far more talented player. He has received limited duty in the GDL and typically has garnered positive reviews. Craig Ludwig: 12 weight, 2/2 skating, 2/0 shot, 2 sth & pass, 1/3 aware, Shoots: L Obviously Ludwig isn’t an option as he is below average in every area, but he is a default sub when one of the two starting defenseman is in the box or hurt. If in a close or competitive game, bench Ludwig, he can’t hurt you there. Defense: 5.5/10 Goalie Zone: On the surface it looks like the Stars have nothing more than an average goaltending situation, in reality though, they have so much more than that. Jon Casey: 2 weight, 4/3 skating, 4/4 aware, 3 puck control, 2/2/3/4 save, Catches: L The save ratings look rather pathetic for a starting goalie, but he plays above and beyond those abilities in many instances. Where Casey’s strengths lie are in his weight and skating, he is a manual goalies dream because he can play mind games with the shooter as he is able to stop and go in his crease with great ease. In auto mode Casey has games where he can stand on his head and make some amazing saves that wouldn’t be expected. It isn’t entirely unreasonable to draft him a little earlier than some other goalies with similar overall ratings. Goalie: 7/10 Bottom Line: Dallas likely has the steepest learning curve among skilled teams in the game and can often times be pushed aside because of this. But in the hands of a skilled and patient user, they can be utterly devastating to play against. *It’s always sunny in Philadelphia reference.

I have version 3.51, is it safe to assume you have 3.6?

Updated my list of people i need to locate. i should be around wednesday evening, im going to try and start pming you bums, I want to get these games in.

i here, you no here, GAAAAAAAAAAAA

This is a fantastic league and I'd be a fool to give my spot up again, sign me up!

Gotta agree with Frey, I'm worth nothing in 2 v 2

I love this series, especially Streets of Rage 2. I can't recall how many times I've played the game just so I could finally beat mania mode. I had been awaiting the release of their final version of the remake for a few years now. I went to go look for it at the end of March and didn't see anything and then I checked yesterday for the rom and I was so excited when I saw it had been released and then the big let down came when I noticed the link was already gone. If you ask me this is a pile of horse crap from SEGA's part. The creator of the SORR sent SEGA a formal letter and spent 8 years creating the game, then SEGA decided to step in once its finally released. I can't agree more that I hope they come no where near this site.

#93 - Righty

I'll join in and play the token game I'm usually good for. A, B, whatever, i no like the 2 v 2.

Looks like I'll be adjusting to showing up on Wednesday as well with Beavers now moving to that day and Matt holding out some hope in being around then.

I will finally get top 50 F in Blitz 6, records prepare to be demolished!

Guys I've never seen online: Kingraph Houly Beavers (Shooting for Tuesday) Stanish Lemme know when you jerks are actually around, I'll try to make myself more available if I know you're around. Guys I've played: RWD (2 left) VC (1 1/3 game left) Bound to run into you guys, Tuesday evening any good? Just Need a Planned Time: Matthurray Name the evening and I'll let you know. We always manage to get them in. Get off the playskool laptop: Carse Don't care if I find you or not, go play Iceguy in Lagola Cup already will you?

I'll be around in the evening, after 9 EST, hope to catch you then, we have a pair.

Who own the league? OWNS!!! OWNS!!! OWNS!!!

Had a game going with iceguy today, had some mexican dial up issues flare up all game but it was 8-3 late in the 3rd before iceguy decided to quit and call the game a no decision. I think we all know you don't pull out of a game late in the 3rd and claim it doesn't count. So please make it an 8-3 road win for LA, thank you.w

Yeah, I've recieved similar yet less disturbing messages from him before. I typically ignore him unless I have to play him.

An answer is long overdue here and this is my short answer...depends. Now, for a far more detailed answer. What it depends on for me personally is, whats my personnel? Do i have a big shooter in the middle, a powerful shot on the wing, gifted skaters, a combo, defensive specialist, etc.? Here are some examples I've used over time and my reasoning for doing so. GDL 1: Carson (R )-Turgeon(L)-Recchi(L) All 3 have 4/5 shots, Carson and Turgeon are 4/4 skaters, Recchi a 5/4. I have a big shooter in the middle, and big shooter on each wing. Carson is a bit heavier, its tough to get to the net with him consistently, so its more useful to be able to feed him where its easier to do one-timers and let go of his slap shot. I liked Recchi on his forehand as well because he carried the puck a lot, so i wanted the slapshot as an option to keep the defense honest, also, hes fast enough to deke and his shot is strong enough to where the backhander isnt an issue. GDL 3: Hawerchuk (L)-Sandstrom(L)-Robitaille(L) Hawerchuk is a playmaker, not much of a shooter, so its pretty useless to keep him on his off wing to utitlize his slapper. Guys would typically sag off of Hawerchuk, try to take away passing lanes to my two snipers, so when there was open ice it was much easier and efficient to attack the net on hawerchuks natural side. Another strength to him playing his natural side was that he could use his forwhand pass to feed Sandstroms forehand...5 passer to 5/5 shooter can be devestating. Robitiaille was used on his off wing for similar reasons to Recchi/Carson. Blitz 1: Kelly Miller(L)-Kontos(L)-Holik (R ) Miller had 4/4 speed and 3/3 shot, again, fairly useless to try and utilize his slapper a lot, much easier to use his skating to either crash the net or feed Kontos. Also, if i wanted to cut into the middle for a floater, i could do so, or i could fake the floater and stuff it in far post with a quick backhander. As for Holik, he was just a guy who could take and give a hit, and skate a little, he had no stand out skills with the puck. The most effective thing with Holik was crash the net and get a near post deke goal, much easier to do on his forehand than his back. Classic Spring 09: Turgeon(L)-Baker(L)-Smail(L)/Lazaro(L)/Lamb(L) Some different reasoning here then the other all Lefty line. Turgeon has 4/4 speed and 3/2 shot, not much reason for him to be on his off wing or in the middle. Easier for him to have the room to use his speed and make plays on his natural wing. Baker has the best shot, thus he goes into the middle. The other 3 are more or less the same player, average skaters, lack of shooting. The reason to put them on their off wing? Due to their inability to slap shot effectively or deke consistently, its easier to feed them one-timers if they get into position since theoretically, they are shooting on a goalie who will more likely be out of position than not. In general, what my constant goal was with my offense was being able to attack in as many ways as possible. If you got a big shooter who can go on a wing, put him there, open that option up, but, if there is a dearth of shooters on the wing, dont pigeon hole your self into difficult situations by putting them on their off wing.

If I have anything to say that is smart for once that is off-topic from what I usually write, I'll put it here. Tip of the cap to Smoz requesting a previous post to get stickied to get this rolling.