[Gladiator]

*This is my first time writing a dynasty so any suggestion or comment would be appreciated. I’m going to impose to my team a 47 million salary cap instead of league 59.6 to make it a bigger challenge. I’m using rosters from the start of 2010/2011 season.

September 4 2010: Ray Emery signs with Tampa Bay for 2 years at $1.6m/year.

September 5 2010: The Chicago Blackhawks trade Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Colorado Avalanche for a 4th round pick in 2011.
- Jay McKee signs with Colorado for 2 years at $900k/year.
- Marc-André Bergeron signs with Buffalo for 3 years at $1.8m/year.
- Tom Preissing signs with Dallas for 2 years at $900k/year.

September 11 2010: Evgeni Nabokov signs with the New York Islanders for 2 years at $2.2m/year.
- Jason Williams signs with Atlanta for 3 years at $1.1m/year.

September 12 2010: Toronto trade Mike Komisarek to Tampa Bay for a 3rd round pick in 2011.
- Chicago trade Brian Campbell to Phoenix for a 2nd round pick in 2011 and a 3rd round pick in 2012.

Season Preview

1. New Jersey
2. Vancouver
3. Washington
4. Detroit
5. San Jose
6. Buffalo
7. Pittsburgh
8. Boston
9. Tampa Bay
10. Chicago
11. Philadelphie
12. Phoenix
13. Anaheim
14. Calgary
15. Ottawa
16. Los Angeles
17. New York Rangers
18. St. Louis
19. Toronto
20. Minnesota
21. Colorado
22. New York Islanders
23. Dallas
24. Nashville
25. Atlanta
26. Montreal
27. Edmonton
28. Columbus
29. Carolina
30. Florida

September 26 2010: Vancouver trade Mikael Samuelsson to the New York Islanders for a 4th and a 5th round pick in 2011.

September 29 2010: Niklas Hagman claimed off waivers by St. Louis.

Centers

Shawn Horcoff – 32 years old – 6’1” 209 lbs – 5,500,000$ - 5 years

Horcoff is the veteran and the captain of the team. Good two-way center with great faceoffs skills. On a good team he would be a great #2 center but here for now he’s the #1 option. May have to be move because of his big contract for us to respect our salary cap.

Sam Gagner – 21 years old – 5’9” 174 lbs – 2,275,000$ - 2 years

If everything goes according to plan, Gagner should be our #1 center for the next couple of years. But right now he’s going to continue his development on the second line. His defensive play needs work. He’s a good playmaker. A lot of potential.

Gilbert Brule – 23 years old – 5’10” 174 lbs – 1,850,000$ - 2 years

Future #2 center with good speed. He’s never going to meet the expectations of a former 6th overall pick but he’s a good two-way player.

Alexandre Giroux – 29 years old – 6’3” 196 lbs – 500,000$ - 1 year

Cheap 4th line player.

Left Wingers

Taylor Hall – 18 years old – 6’1” 187 lbs – 900,000$ - 3 years

Franchise player. He’s the guy we’re going to build the franchise around. Has a lot of room for improvement but he has massive potential.

Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi – 19 years old – 6’1” 200 lbs – 900,000$ - 3 years

Great kid with a lot of potential. Looks more ready for the NHL than Hall and might take his spot on the first line.

Linus Omark – 23 years old – 5’10” 171 lbs – 875,000$ - 2 years

Great offensive abilities. If Omark can overcome his small size can become a good second line player.

Andrew Cogliano – 23 years old – 5’11” 183 lbs – 1,000,000$ - 1 year

Cogliano has the potential to play on the second line but with Hall, Pääjärvi and Omark in front of him, he probably won’t have the chance in Edmonton and will probably be move at the deadline.

Right Wingers

Ales Hemsky – 27 years old – 6’ 191 lbs – 4,100,000$ - 2 years

One of the best Right Wingers in the league but injuries in the last couple of years kept him for rising to superstar status. Hopefully will stay is entire career in Edmonton.

Dustin Penner – 28 years old – 6’4” 229 lbs – 4,250,000$ - 2 years

The biggest enigma on the team, Penner has all the tools to become a superstar in this league but doesn’t always put the effort. With my salary cap reality may be my best asset to trade.

Jordan Eberle – 20 years old – 5’10” 180 lbs – 846,000$ - 3 years

With Hall and Pääjärvi, Eberle represent the future of this organization. If I feel his development is slowed by playing on the 3rd line I may send him in the AHL to give him more playing time.

Zach Stortini – 25 years old – 6’4” 213 lbs – 700,000$ - 1 year

Stortini is our enforcer, he won’t play much and comes cheap so that’s a perfect fit.

Defensemen

Sheldon Souray – 34 years old – 6’4” 224 lbs – 5,400,000$ - 2 years

If he stays healthy, he’s going to be a big part of our PP. His big contract may be a problem but if he perform I’ll find a way to work around it.

Ryan Whitney – 27 years old – 6’4” 200 lbs – 4,000,000$ - 3 years

Whitney is a good offensive defenseman and is also solid in his own zone. Excellent work ethic. Will be in Edmonton for a long time.

Tom Gilbert – 27 years old – 6’3” 209 lbs – 4,000,000$ - 4 years

Good all-around defenseman, no big weakness. I’m not sure he’s deserving of his big contract.

Ladislav Smid – 24 years old – 6’3” 202 lbs – 1,300,000$ - 1 year

Good skater, strong work ethic, average offensive ability.

Kurtis Foster – 28 years old – 6’5” 229 lbs – 1,800,000$ - 2 years

Big shot, solid defensively, not physical for his size. Might move for a cheaper option.

Jim Vandermeer – 30 years old – 6’1” 207 lbs – 2,300,000$ - 1 year

Good speed, can drop the gloves but average in everything else. Will be move for someone cheaper.

Goaltenders

Nikolai Khabibulin – 37 years old – 6’1” 207 lbs – 3,750,000$ - 3 years

Khabibulin is still a great goaltender at the age of 37. Good influence in the room. Because we probably won’t be a contender for 2-3 years, he will probably be move.

Martin Gerber – 36 years old – 6’ 194 lbs – 500,000$ - 1 year

Average goaltender but cheap which is good for a backup.

Total Players Salaries: $46,746,000